Epic Games has won a lawsuit against Google. The latter was recognized as a monopoly in the distribution of applications

Epic Games has scored a landmark victory over Google in the District Court of Northern California. The court found that Google does indeed have monopoly power in the markets for Android app distribution and in-app billing services. Epic Games filed the original complaint after its popular Fortnite game was removed from the Play Store because Epic circumvented Google’s app store commission on in-app purchases, also known as the «Google tax». Thus, the trial lasted three years.

The trial lasted three years.

Today’s verdict is a victory for all app developers and consumers around the world. It proves that Google’s app store practices are illegal and that they are abusing their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition, and reduce innovation. — Epic Games

press release.

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Google said it plans to appeal the verdict.

We plan to appeal the verdict. Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform. Time has clearly shown that we compete fiercely with Apple and its App Store and app stores on Android devices and game consoles. We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners and the broader Android ecosystem. – Wilson White, Google’s executive director of government relations and public policy

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The mobile version of Fortnite was removed from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store back in 2020. Epic had previously tried to file a similar lawsuit against Apple, but the court ultimately ruled in Apple’s favor. However, the iPhone maker was required to offer a third-party payment system within the app.

An iPhone maker was required to offer a third-party payment system within the app.