Google should open the Play Store. On Monday, US District Judge James Donato issued a permanent injunction forcing the company to open up to its competitors for three years and make Android apps available in other stores. The decision stems from Google’s four-year antitrust battle with Epic Games. Google said on Monday it would appeal the decision, highlighting its competition with Apple and potential security issues.
As part of the decision, Google must allow third-party app stores access to the Google Play library. In addition, CNBC reports that the company should make other app stores available for download from the Google Play Store. Google also can’t make deals (using payments or revenue sharing) to launch apps exclusively on Google Play or preempt its store on new hardware.
Payment changes will also appear in this order. Google cannot require developers to use its payment system. And it can’t stop devs from informing users about cheaper payment options.
CNBC reports that a three-person committee will monitor Google’s compliance and technical issues arising from the decision. Google and Epic will form a committee.
When Engadget was reached for comment, a Google spokesperson pointed to a blog post explaining why it would appeal. Google’s VP of Regulatory Affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland wrote that the company’s competition with Apple helps to ignore antitrust concerns. “The decision fails to take into account that Android is an open platform and developers have always had many options for distributing their applications,” Mulholland wrote. “In fact, most Android devices come preloaded with two or more app stores out of the box.”
“For example, Epic Games has made it popular Fortnite app available to Android users through the Samsung Galaxy Store, sideloading, and the Epic Games Store — all while Fortnite is not distributed through Google Play,” wrote Google’s VP of Regulatory Affairs. “These are options that developers have never been able to offer their American users on iPhones.”
In December, a judge found the Google Play Store in violation of US antitrust laws. The unanimous decision found that the company was illegally involved in the distribution of the operating system and in-app payment for Android devices. It also ruled that its deals with other gaming companies and equipment manufacturers were anti-competitive.
In April, Epic listed a proposed temporary injunction that closely aligns with Donato’s decision today. On the other hand, Google said that at the time Epic’s quests went too far and were too self-serving.
The decision went very differently than the similar Epic filed against Apple, there Fortnite the maker is very lost. CNBC notes that the judge decided the trial for Google, while the fate of the Apple suit fell in the hands of the judge.
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