Google ordered to open up Play Store following 4-year antitrust case with Epic Games

A US District Court has issued a permanent injunction requiring Google to open its Play Store to competitors, marking a significant victory for Epic Games in its four-year antitrust battle against the tech giant.

On Monday, Judge James Donato ruled that Google must allow third-party app stores to access the Play Store, paving the way for greater competition in Android app distribution. The order will be in effect for three years, and Google has already announced plans to appeal the decision, citing security concerns and competition with Apple.

Opening up the Play Store

Under the ruling, Google must make the Play Store accessible to third-party app stores and allow developers to distribute their apps through alternate stores. These alternative stores must also be made available for download within the Play Store itself.

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Additionally, Google is prohibited from signing exclusive deals that would limit apps to its platform or preinstalling its Play Store on new devices.

One of the most impactful aspects of the ruling is the change to Google’s billing policies. The company can no longer require developers to use its own billing system, nor can it prevent them from informing users about more affordable payment options available outside Google Play. This shift could significantly affect the revenue Google generates from its app store transactions.

To ensure Google follows through on these changes, a three-person committee will be set up, comprising representatives from both Google and Epic Games. This committee will monitor Google’s compliance with the ruling and address any technical issues that arise as the Play Store is opened to competitors.

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Google’s response and appeal

In response to the ruling, Google highlighted its ongoing competition with Apple, arguing that this negates the antitrust concerns raised by Epic. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s VP of Regulatory Affairs, stated in a blog post that Android has always been an open platform, giving developers multiple ways to distribute apps.

Mulholland pointed out that Epic Games has made its popular Fortnite app available through other channels, such as the Samsung Galaxy Store and the Epic Games Store, even while it was unavailable on Google Play.

Google argues that these distribution options set Android apart from Apple’s iOS, where the App Store remains the sole official platform for app downloads. As such, Google plans to appeal the ruling, suggesting the decision failed to account for the openness of the Android ecosystem.

Antitrust violations

The legal battle began in December when a jury found that Google’s Play Store violated US antitrust laws. The jury ruled that Google held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing for Android devices.

Furthermore, it determined that Google’s deals with gaming companies and device manufacturers were anti-competitive. Epic Games, which had filed a similar suit against Apple, saw a different outcome in that case, largely losing its legal battle with the iPhone maker.

Google argues that the demands from Epic are overly self-serving and that the current structure of the Play Store benefits consumers by ensuring security and providing a consistent user experience. Despite these claims, Judge Donato’s ruling sets a precedent that could reshape the app marketplace and reduce Google’s dominance in-app distribution.