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US Judge Rules Against Google, Orders Opening of Android App to Competition

Esther

A U.S. District Judge James Donato has ordered Google to dismantle the barriers protecting its Android app store from competition. This ruling is part of a broader antitrust case that challenges Google's dominance in the digital marketplace.


The injunction mandates major changes to the Google Play Store, aiming to foster a more competitive environment for app distribution and in-app purchases.


The court's decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, which accused Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly over app access and payment systems on Android devices. The jury had previously found that Google's practices unlawfully stifled competition, leading to this judicial intervention.


Judge Donato's order requires Google to allow third-party app stores on its platform and prohibits the company from forcing developers to use its billing system for in-app purchases.


Additionally, Google is barred from making payments to device manufacturers to preinstall its app store or sharing revenue with other app distributors. These changes are intended to open up the Android ecosystem, providing users with more options for downloading apps and making transactions.


Google has announced plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that the mandated changes could have unintended negative consequences for consumers, developers, and device makers. Despite this, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the decision as "big news," expressing optimism about the potential for a more vibrant and competitive Android ecosystem.


The ruling also includes the establishment of a three-person technical committee to oversee the implementation of these changes, with representatives from both Epic and Google. This decision is part of a series of legal challenges facing Google, including separate cases concerning its search engine and advertising technology dominance.




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