Epic Court Battle Forces Google to Open up Android to Third-Party App Stores

Google Ordered to Open Up Play Store to Competition for Three Years

In a major victory for Epic Games, Judge James Donato has issued a final ruling in the Epic v. Google antitrust trial, ordering Google to effectively open up the Google Play app store to competition for three whole years. Starting November 1st, 2024, and ending November 1st, 2027, Google must distribute rival third-party app stores within Google Play and give them access to the full catalog of Google Play apps, unless developers opt out individually.

What Does This Mean for Developers?

For developers, this means a level playing field, where they can distribute their apps through multiple channels without being tied to Google’s proprietary system. This could lead to increased competition, innovation, and better services for users.

The Ruling: A Major Blow to Google’s Monopoly

The ruling is a significant blow to Google’s monopoly on the app store market. Judge Donato’s permanent injunction also blocks Google from engaging in various anticompetitive behaviors, including restrictions on app developers and manipulation of app store rankings.

The Epic v. Google Trial: A Long and Winding Road

The Epic v. Google trial has been a long and winding road, with Epic Games originally suing Google on August 13th, 2020. The game developer attempted to bypass Google’s 30 percent fee on in-app purchases with a surprise update to its popular game Fortnite, leading to a coordinated #FreeFortnite action campaign and a pair of lawsuits accusing Google of creating an illegal monopoly.

The Apple Case: A Different Outcome

In contrast, the Apple case is already over, with the Supreme Court rejecting Epic’s final appeal in January. While Epic achieved some success in dismantling Apple’s "anti-steering rules," the outcome was far from what Epic had hoped for.

The Verdict: A Unanimous Decision

The jury in Epic v. Google reached a unanimous verdict last December, finding that the Google Play app store and Google Play Billing service were an illegal monopoly and that many of the special deals Google made with game developers and phone manufacturers were anticompetitive behavior.

The Road Ahead: Will Google Appeal?

It’s unclear whether Google will have to immediately follow the court’s demands. Google has already promised to appeal the verdict, and like Apple, it will likely ask that appeals court to press pause on Judge Donato’s order while it tries its luck again.