US Court Orders Google to Open Android App Store to Rivals

A US judge has issued a permanent injunction requiring Google to allow competitors access to its Play marketplace.

This marks a major development in Epic Games' antitrust lawsuit against Google, compelling the tech giant to permit third-party app stores to offer the full Google Play catalogue.

Legal Background

Epic Games versus Google

The dispute began in August 2020 when Epic Games added a direct payment option in Fortnite, bypassing platform fees, which led to its removal from Google Play.

Epic subsequently sued Google and Apple, challenging what it viewed as anti-competitive practices in mobile marketplaces. While Epic lost against Apple in 2021, the ruling against Google is a major win for the developer.

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Court Ruling and Impact

The court's decision, effective 1 November 2024, imposes several restrictions on Google for three years:

• Google cannot offer payments to developers for exclusive Play Store launches.
• It is barred from incentivising manufacturers or carriers to pre-install Google Play.
• Google cannot force the use of Google Play Billing or restrict developers from directing users to alternative payment methods.

Google's Response and Next Steps

Concerns and Appeal

Google intends to appeal, claiming the ruling could impact consumer privacy and security, hinder app promotion, and affect market competition.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, VP of regulatory affairs at Google, highlighted potential unintended consequences of this order.

Implementation and Oversight

Google must implement the required technical changes within eight months.

A Technical Committee, including representatives from Epic and Google, will manage disputes related to the injunction. The court will maintain oversight and may modify the injunction if necessary.

Editorial Notes

The ruling against Google is a landmark moment in the debate over app store monopolies and their effect on competition and consumer choice.

While the outcome supports Epic's aim for a more open app ecosystem, Google's concerns regarding security and market stability remain significant.

The appeal process and practical enforcement will be closely monitored, as they may set key precedents in tech regulation.

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