In a monumental decision over alleged antitrust violations in the digital marketplace, a US jury ruled in favor of Epic Games in its lawsuit claiming that Google illegally maintains a monopoly on the distribution of Android apps through its Play Store.
The extremely popular maker of Fortnite first filed this complaint in 2020, alleging that the tech giant’s exclusionary conduct on app stores on Android devices harms competition and inflates transaction fees imposed on developers.
Specifically, Google prohibits downloading apps from unauthorized sources and requires the use of its proprietary in-app billing system for all digital purchases, charging up to a 30% commission in the process. Epic argued that these policies serve to illegally maintain Google’s dominance.
The jury ultimately agreed with Epic’s main allegations. Its verdict states that by restricting app stores and alternative payment methods, Google is engaging in anti-competitive monopolistic behavior around the distribution and billing of Android apps.
While Epic Games still needs to work with the courts to determine appropriate remedies to address antitrust violations, this result deals a blow to Google’s arguments defending the legality of its Android ecosystem policies. It also serves as a major symbolic victory for Epic in its ongoing crusade against alleged app store monopolies.
In response, Google expressed its disappointment and desire to appeal the ruling, claiming that its Play Store faces extensive competition and that Android offers open app distribution options that surpass those of rival platforms.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the verdict as a victory against monopolistic forces that he believes severely restrict consumer choice. This follows a separate lawsuit by Epic in 2020 against Apple’s similarly closed iOS App Store model that was largely ruled in Apple’s favor last year.
This high-profile legal battle with Epic Games demonstrates that ongoing antitrust scrutiny over Google’s far-reaching impact is unlikely to cease, given recent lawsuits filed by several US states and across the tech industry. How proposed solutions address Play Store issues, such as alternative payment systems, could profoundly affect the economic models of mobile apps in the future.
Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn