Epic Games Store to Be Introduced on Google Play After Successful Lawsuit
In a landmark decision, a federal appeals court in the Ninth Circuit has upheld a 2023 jury verdict that found Google's Android Play Store to be an illegal monopoly with anticompetitive practices[1][2][3]. The court's ruling, handed down in October 2024, requires Google to make significant changes to its app store policies.
The jury determined that Google had willfully acquired or maintained monopoly power in Android app distribution and in-app billing services worldwide (excluding China), and had unlawfully tied the use of the Play Store to its proprietary billing system[3][4]. As a result, U.S. District Judge James Donato issued a permanent injunction, requiring Google to:
- Allow rival app stores to access the Play Store’s full catalog of over 2 million apps.
- Permit users to download and use alternative app stores through the Play Store.
- Cease certain contractual practices that restricted competition.
- Implement changes to Play Store policies that enable broader competition while maintaining reasonable security measures.
- Charge rival app stores no more than a reasonable, cost-based fee for using Play Store infrastructure to prevent pricing abuse[1][3].
Google's defense argued that these changes would increase privacy and security risks by exposing consumers to malicious actors disguised as legitimate app stores. However, the court rejected Google's contention that the injunction imposed an unlawful "duty to deal" with rivals[1][3].
The lawsuit originated from Epic Games after Google removed Fortnite from the Play Store following Epic's attempt to bypass Google’s 30% commission on in-app purchases via a direct-billing mechanism called "Project Liberty"[3][4]. In response to the ruling, Google is expected to undertake an overhaul of its Play Store to comply with the injunction, which includes implementing support for alternative app stores within the Play Store environment and restructuring its policies to foster competition[1][2]. The company may seek to delay enforcement but faces a significant mandate to dismantle the digital barriers that previously protected its monopoly position[1].
Meanwhile, Richard Janvrin, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, continues to make waves in the iGaming industry. Since beginning his professional sports coverage career in 2015, Janvrin has covered various aspects of iGaming, including news, reviews, bonuses/promotions, sweepstakes casinos, and legal issues. Janvrin, who started writing as a teenager, entered the iGaming space in 2018 and has been instrumental in providing insightful and informative content to the community[5].
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-faces-big-hurdle-appeal-android-app-store-ruling-2025-03-01/ [2] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/google-faces-big-hurdle-in-appeal-of-android-app-store-ruling/ [3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-01/google-faces-big-hurdle-in-appeal-of-android-app-store-ruling [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/03/01/google-faces-big-hurdle-in-appeal-android-app-store-ruling/ [5] https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-janvrin-b104a41b/
In the aftermath of the court's ruling, Google is expected to modify its Play Store policies, allowing rival app stores to access their extensive catalog of over 2 million apps and enabling users to download and use alternative app stores within the Play Store environment. The advancement in app store competition highlights the growing influence of technology in gadgets and digital markets.
