Decide James Donato has issued an injunction within the case of Epic v. Google, ordering that the Android developer has to open the working system to third-party app shops, distributing them and permitting them entry to the Play Retailer’s library of apps. Beginning this November and for a interval of three years, Google has to permit third-party shops the choice to supply Play Retailer apps to their prospects, in addition to allow builders entry to cost choices apart from its personal.
The injunction says that Google can not incentivize builders prioritizing the Play Retailer, or encourage them to deprioritize different app shops. Nevertheless, they do have to supply builders a method of opting out of third-party app catalogs in the event that they so select. Epic and Google will collaborate to nominate a three-person committee to deal with any disputes between the 2 entities. Based on Decide Donato, Google has eight months from now to adjust to these necessities. The ruling can be confined to america of America.
Decide Donato stated in a separate order that the three-year time interval is to assist different builders and shops behind the limitations: “This is because the provisions are designed to level the playing field for the entry and growth of rivals, without burdening Google excessively… As competition comes into play and the network effects that Google Play unfairly enjoys are abated, Google should not be unduly constrained as a competitor. Some of the prohibited conduct might be legitimate when done by a company without monopoly power.”
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney stated in a put up on X: “The Epic Games Store and other app stores are coming to the Google Play Store in 2025 in the USA — without Google’s scare screens and Google’s 30% app tax — thanks to victory in Epic v Google.” Epic additionally lately filed a distinct lawsuit in opposition to each Google and Samsung, alleging that the 2 conspired to make the method of downloading the Epic Video games Retailer onto a Samsung machine onerous and prohibitively troublesome.
Google has since issued a press release saying it’s interesting the decision: “Ultimately, while these changes presumably satisfy Epic, they will cause a range of unintended consequences that will harm American consumers, developers and device makers… We are appealing that underlying decision and we will ask the courts to pause Epic’s requested changes, pending that appeal.”
