Epic Games scores a major victory over Google in US court

Last week, Epic Games scored a convincing victory over tech giants Google and Samsung in a landmark lawsuit that could change the Android app ecosystem. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, accused the companies of allegedly preventing third-party app stores from running on Android devices. In a swift ruling, the court sided with Epic, forcing Google to revamp its Play Store policy and give unrestricted access to third-party app stores.

At the time, the court ruled in favor of Epic.

This ruling comes nearly ten months after the same court recognized Google as a monopoly in the market for Android app distribution and in-app billing services, prompting this important decision. Under the new ruling, Google will now be required to make third-party app stores publicly available and operating in the Play Store, making it easier for users to access alternative platforms, such as Epic’s own game store, without the warnings and intimidating screens that previously discouraged users from installing apps from other sources.

The court’s ruling, which takes effect Nov. 1 for three years and is only in the U.S. for now, also offers new freedoms for developers. Key changes include:

• Alternative payment solutions: Developers can bypass Google’s billing system and its 30 percent fee by offering users alternative payment methods.
• External download links:Developers will be able to directly direct users to download options outside of the Play Store, allowing greater freedom and flexibility in distributing apps.
• Ability to opt out: Developers are not required to participate in these changes and may continue to use Google’s existing systems at their discretion.

In addition to opening up the Play Store, the ruling prohibits Google from offering financial incentives or benefits to device manufacturers or carriers to deter them from pre-installing competing app stores. Google is also prohibited from contacting developers to dissuade them from launching apps on competing platforms in an effort to create a more level playing field for competition.

The ruling also prohibits Google from contacting developers to dissuade them from launching apps on competing platforms.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, has already confirmed that the company plans to appeal the ruling, hinting that this legal battle is far from over. As the case develops, it will likely have significant implications for the app development community and the future of digital marketplaces on Android devices. For now, however, Epic’s victory marks a significant shift toward increased competition and greater user choice in the mobile app industry.

A victory for Epic marks a significant shift toward increased competition and greater user choice in the mobile app industry.