In a groundbreaking development, Epic Games has emerged triumphant in its month-long antitrust case against tech giant Google over alleged monopolistic practices on the Play Store. The jury, after careful consideration, ruled in favor of Epic Games on all counts, declaring that Google’s imposition of a 30% commission on the Play Store stifles competition and hampers innovation.
The verdict, if upheld, could send shockwaves through the entire app store economy, as it has the potential to reshape the dynamics of app distribution and profits. Epic Games, not seeking monetary damages, aims to challenge Google’s app store practices and push for greater freedom for app developers to implement their own store and billing systems on Android.
Judge James Donato is set to deliberate on potential remedies in January, raising the possibility of a shift in the Android landscape, allowing developers more control over their applications’ destiny. Epic Games sees this as a significant win for app developers and consumers globally, underscoring the pressing need for legislation to address the dominance of tech giants like Apple and Google over smartphones.
Google, however, is not taking the defeat lightly and has announced plans to challenge the federal court’s decision. The tech giant argues that Android and Google Play offer more choice and openness compared to other mobile platforms, asserting vigorous competition with Apple and other app stores on Android devices and gaming consoles.
The trial brought to light allegations of Google deleting messages to conceal anticompetitive behavior, a claim that Epic Games argued was crucial to the case. Despite Google settling with dating app maker Match before the trial and resolving antitrust claims with U.S. states and consumers, the court’s decision against them stands as a significant blow.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the victory on social media, emphasizing the need to break free from what he termed “the Google Play monopoly.” This comes after a similar antitrust case against Apple in 2020, where a U.S. judge largely ruled in favor of Apple.
Epic has since sought Supreme Court intervention in the Apple case, while Apple contests a ruling requiring changes to App Store rules. The unfolding legal battles in the tech industry signal a potential change in the control wielded by major players over app distribution and revenue streams.
Related:
- Grab Your Controllers as Epic Games Store Unleashes 17 Free Games! Will Red Dead Redemption 2 be Included This Time?
- Google’s Attempt to Acquire Epic Games Before Stadia’s Fall
- Google Messages may soon allow users to edit sent text messages
(via)
