Last December, a jury determined that Google breached US antitrust laws through contracts and billing stipulations that unfairly advantaged its Google Play app store. A judge is now in the process of determining how the tech giant may be compelled to modify its business practices as a consequence.
Epic Games, the developer behind the popular Fortnite game and the victor in the court trial that challenged the Play store’s legality, is pushing for federal judge James Donato to prohibit Google from signing contracts that suppress competition. The developer also seeks to make Google assist competing stores in listing more apps, which could prove advantageous.
Epic’s ultimate goal here seems clear—by circumventing Google’s payment system and promoting games through its own app store, the gaming giant hopes to increase its earn from in-game purchases across various titles. Google, however, counters that such demands from Epic Games may jeopardize user safety and inhibit the growth of its business partners, which includes Android device manufacturers and app developers. Google intends to appeal the jury’s decision, potentially deferring any penalties for years—or perhaps eliminating them altogether.
Despite the possibility of an appeal, Google has had to institute expensive changes recently in Europe and Asia due to court defeats and new regulations affecting the Play store. A trial with Epic is also currently unfolding in Australia. “Google, as an illegal monopolist, will face penalties,” declared Donato at a hearing in San Francisco last Thursday.
Relaxing Google’s tenacious grip on the Android universe will necessitate some serious industry modification, offering more choices for consumers while potentially obliging the tech giant to invest in ameliorative projects. Donato also directly refuted Google’s argument that such changes would negatively affect consumers and businesses.
Epic Games has several demands in this legal battle, one of which includes stopping Google from finalizing agreements that hinder companies from cooperating with alternatives to its app store. Other app stores like Amazon and Samsung find it hard to convince developers to list their apps outside Google Play due to the additional workload. To level the field, Epic suggests that Google should, for six years, help rival stores list apps that are featured on Google Play.
Key to this proposal is Donato’s determination to address Google’s rule stipulating that apps on the Play store must use Google’s billing system for processing payments. He’s also interested in lessening the challenges users face when attempting to download apps from non-Play stores on Android devices. Final arguments from Google and Epic are anticipated in August, with penalties due to be officially issued shortly thereafter.
