In a recent courtroom session, Judge James Donato took a firm stance against what he deemed “anticompetitive friction” imposed by Google in the realm of Android app distribution. This development comes on the heels of a prolonged legal battle between Epic Games and Google, which had seemingly reached a temporary truce just a month prior.
Nearly three years have passed since a jury ruled that Google held an illegal monopoly over Android apps, prompting Judge Donato to mandate changes aimed at fostering a more open app distribution environment. His previous orders included requiring Google to feature rival app stores within its own Google Play Store and to grant these competitors access to its extensive catalog of applications.
However, Epic Games contended that Google continues to complicate the installation process for alternative app stores. During the hearing, Epic’s attorney, Yonatan Even, demonstrated the cumbersome steps involved in this process, prompting Judge Donato to agree that certain barriers were unnecessary. “That is not acceptable, that has to be fixed,” he stated emphatically.
One notable point of contention arose when Judge Donato questioned why a search for “store for apps” yielded results for physical stores, such as Walmart, instead of third-party app stores. He insisted on a more comprehensive search result, urging Google to ensure that all relevant variations of search terms are considered.
Further scrutiny was directed at the installation process itself. Judge Donato expressed his discontent with the requirement for users to click a “view” button before being able to install a third-party app store. “Make that install, not view,” he ordered, emphasizing the need for a streamlined user experience.
Epic also highlighted that searching for “app store” or even specific names like Aptoide led users to a banner rather than a straightforward list of apps. This, they argued, could deter established companies from launching their own app stores due to diminished visibility. Judge Donato concurred, questioning the rationale behind such a design and insisting on its revision.
“Take off the ‘are you looking for’ screen; there’s no purpose for that,” he remarked, pointing out that users typically know what they are searching for. He further urged Google to implement these changes swiftly, setting a deadline of one week for compliance.
