Google doesn’t want big changes to its app store, Play, as suggested by Epic Games, the creators of “Fortnite.” They’re in a legal battle over competition rules. Google says changes suggested by Epic Games would make it very hard for Google to compete.
Google Fights Epic’s App Store Changes
The fight started when Epic Games sued Google in 2020, claiming that Google Play Store is a monopoly. Epic wanted Google to allow other app stores and payment processors, making it easier for users to access apps and make purchases. However, Google argued that these changes could compromise the security of Android devices and weaken its ability to compete with Apple’s iOS.
Epic wants Google to:
- Epic wants Google to stop telling phone makers where they can or can’t put app stores.
- They don’t want Google to share Play Store revenues with phone makers or carriers anymore.
- Epic wants agreements that won’t discourage other companies from having their own app stores.
- They want to end exclusivity deals for Android apps and clauses that force developers to offer the same things on Google Play as on other platforms.
- Epic wants downloading apps from other stores to be as easy as from Google Play, with no extra steps or warnings.
- They want all developers to have equal access to Android features, not just those on Google Play.
- Epic doesn’t want Google to make access to other Google services dependent on using Google Play.
- They want third-party app stores to have access to Google Play’s app catalog for six years, with no fees.
- Epic wants developers to be able to tell users to pay elsewhere without paying Google extra.
- They want to use alternative payment systems instead of Google Play Billing.
- Epic wants a committee to make sure Google follows these rules, with members who aren’t Google employees.
A judge will decide on May 23. Epic hasn’t commented yet.
Google’s Defense of the App Store
Google’s head of government affairs and public policy, Wilson White, stated that Epic’s demands would harm the privacy, security, and overall experience of consumers, developers, and device manufacturers.
In its filing, Google argued that a settlement related to the Play store with states and consumers renders Epic’s request for an injunction unnecessary. Google claimed that the remedies outlined in that settlement fully address the alleged anticompetitive behavior presented by Epic during the trial.
Last year, Epic convinced a jury that Google was unfairly limiting competition with its controls over app downloads and in-app payments. Google’s recent filing in San Francisco federal court aims to prevent sweeping changes to its app store, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its competitive edge.
Google’s Antitrust Troubles
In December, a jury decided that Google broke the rules by having too much control over its app store and billing service. Google’s app store, Google Play, was a monopoly, which was a win for Epic Games. But Epic wasn’t alone in fighting Google over antitrust issues. All 50 state attorneys general settled a similar lawsuit in September. Google agreed to pay $700 million and make some small changes to how it runs its app store in the US.
The main change is that if the settlement is approved, Google will have to let developers direct users away from the Google Play Store for a few years.
Now, Google is in trouble again. This time, it’s about mobile web search. The government and some states say Google has too much power there too. They’re arguing about it in court.
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