A ruling from US District Judge James Donato has mandated that Google open its Play Store to competitors, stemming from an ongoing antitrust dispute with Epic Games. The judge’s decision includes a permanent injunction that requires the IT corporation to allow third-party app stores access to its app library for the next three years. This injunction also obliges the company to make these alternate app stores available for download directly from the Play Store. Additionally, the ruling prohibits Google from engaging in practices that prioritise its own store, such as making exclusive deals or pre-installing its app store on new devices.
The injunction brings substantial changes to Google’s billing policies as well. The organisation can no longer enforce the use of its proprietary billing system for app purchases, nor can it prevent developers from informing users about cheaper payment alternatives. The ruling promotes fair competition among app developers and provides users with more choices regarding payment options.
A three-member committee, consisting of representatives from both Google and Epic Games, will oversee the implementation and compliance with the court’s ruling. The committee is tasked with monitoring the technical aspects and ensuring that Google adheres to the injunction’s stipulations. The multinational corporation has announced plans to appeal the ruling, emphasising concerns regarding competition with Apple and the potential security implications of allowing third-party app stores.
Google argues that the decision overlooks the fact that Android is an open platform, offering developers options for app distribution. The company cites examples like Epic Games’ Fortnite, which has been made available through alternate stores and sideloading methods, illustrating that developers have had multiple avenues to reach users on Android devices that are not available on iPhone.
This ruling comes after a jury found Google guilty of violating US antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly over app distribution and in-app billing on Android. In contrast, a previous case involving Epic and Apple ended less favourably for Epic, as it primarily hinged on a judge’s ruling rather than a jury’s decision.
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