In a dispute involving antitrust laws, a jury found in favor of Epic Games over Google on Monday, potentially changing the terms under which app stores such as Google Play can function.
The corporation’s three-year legal battle ended with the unanimous ruling. The maker of the well-known online multiplayer game Fortnite, Epic, initially sued Google in 2020, claiming that the internet giant’s actions in the app store had broken both federal and state antitrust laws in California.
Epic’s dramatic attempt to unite app creators of all sizes against the powerful gatekeepers of mobile software included the lawsuit against Google as only one component. The main focus of Epic’s battle with Apple and Google is its popular game Fortnite, which is accessible for free on almost all platforms, even with the present App Store and Google Play issues.
Epic claims that both tech behemoths are breaking antitrust laws by making app users pay through their systems and keeping a sizable portion of in-app sales. To defend themselves, Apple and Google typically cite security concerns to explain their shared goal of pushing app users toward a single software authority.
Google and Apple handle third-party programs differently; whereas Android allows “sideloading” of apps, iOS does not. This distinction altered the nature of Epic’s legal dispute with Google. Even said, Google advises users not to install third-party apps, and the procedure is far more complicated than just downloading something from Google Play.
Given those factors, it wasn’t immediately clear that Epic would win its battle against Google Play’s somewhat less restrictive ecosystem, but it did.
Epic Games said following the decision, “Today’s verdict is a win for all app developers and consumers worldwide.” “It demonstrates that Google abuses its monopoly to extract excessive fees, stifle competition, and impede innovation and that their app store practices are illegal.”
Citing the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, and the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Epic applauded regulations that may further curtail Apple and Google’s dominant software tactics.
Google’s VP of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Wilson White, confirmed the company’s plans to appeal in a statement sent to TechCrunch.
“We intend to appeal the decision. Compared to other popular mobile platforms, Android and Google Play offer the most incredible variety and openness, according to White. “. We are steadfastly devoted to our consumers, partners, and the larger Android ecosystem, and we will keep fighting for the Android business model.
If any of this seems familiar, it’s probably because Apple faced a similar battle with Epic. The highly publicized campaign concluded in a mixed ruling two years ago, starting with a parody of Apple’s famous “1984” commercial.
The court’s ruling mostly supported Apple, but it also mandated that the manufacturer of iPhones expand its software market by permitting developers to refer users to other payment methods. Everything is still in the air because both firms petitioned the Supreme Court to take up the matter and revisit the verdict in September.
In 2018, Epic started directing Fortnite players away from Google’s Play Store towards direct downloads. Even though Epic launched Fortnite on Google’s official app store in 2020, the business was criticized by many for restricting users from downloading unofficial apps. The well-known game can no longer be downloaded on iOS devices via Apple’s App Store or accessed on Google Play.
We will continue to hear about Epic’s multifront lawsuit because Google will undoubtedly file an appeal shortly. Nevertheless, everything is going Epic right now, from the somewhat unexpected court victory to the giant Lego Fortnite launch last week that drew over 2.4 million concurrent players.
Conclusion
In a landmark decision, a jury unanimously ruled in favor of Epic Games in its three-year antitrust battle against Google. The lawsuit alleged that Google’s app store practices violated antitrust laws. Epic, the creator of Fortnite, accused both Google and Apple of monopolistic behavior by imposing fees on in-app sales. The decision is seen as a win for app developers and consumers worldwide, challenging the dominant practices of major tech players. While Google plans to appeal, the outcome has broader implications for the regulation of app stores and the digital marketplace. This follows a similar legal battle between Epic and Apple, adding complexity to the evolving landscape of mobile software.