Google Ordered to Open Android System to Rival App Stores
A US judge has ruled that Google must allow rival app stores access to its Android smartphone operating system, following a legal defeat in an antitrust case brought by Epic Games. The California jury found that Google holds an illegal monopoly through its Android Play store, leading to the recent court order.
The injunction, which Google is appealing, comes after a previous ruling in August that Google’s search engine also violates antitrust laws. The tech giant is facing another antitrust lawsuit in Virginia over its dominance in online advertising.
Under the terms of the Epic Games order, Google will be restricted from certain anticompetitive practices for the next three years. These include revenue sharing with potential competitors and requiring developers to exclusively launch apps on the Play Store.
Google plans to challenge the injunction and is seeking to have it put on hold during the appeal process. The company remains committed to advocating for the best interests of developers, device manufacturers, and Android users worldwide.
Despite the changes being applicable only in the US, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney sees this as an opportunity to create a more competitive Android ecosystem that Google cannot control. The legal battle is expected to continue globally.
Phones running on the Android operating system hold a 70% share of the global smartphone market. The jury found that Google had unlawfully ensured the Play store was the sole payment conduit for third-party apps, particularly in the lucrative gaming sector.
Google’s defense of its app store commissions as industry-standard was challenged during the trial, revealing the significant revenue the company generates through the Play store. The court decision aims to disrupt Google’s app store dominance and potentially reshape the mobile app landscape in the future.
