On October 7, 2024, Judge James Donato issued a permanent injunction that requires Google to provide alternatives to the Google Play store for app downloads on Android devices. This ruling is set to take effect on November 1, 2024, but has been temporarily stayed to allow Google to appeal. The court found that Google had engaged in anti-competitive practices by making deals with device manufacturers to ensure that apps would be published exclusively through the Google Play Store. The jury, which decided the case, ruled in favor of Epic Games on all counts, determining that Google’s actions violated antitrust laws.
For a period of three years, Google is prohibited from:
– Compensating companies to launch apps exclusively or primarily on Google Play.
– Paying companies to refrain from competing with Google Play.
– Providing financial incentives to preinstall Google Play on new devices.
– Mandating that app developers use Google Play Billing or forbidding them from informing users about less expensive online purchases available on their websites.
Google will be required to allow access to its app catalog for competing Android app stores and to feature third-party Android app stores within the Google Play app store. A three-member committee, comprising representatives from both Epic and Google, will oversee technical compliance issues.
