In a significant victory for Epic Games, a jury ruled in favor of the game developer in its antitrust case against Google, potentially leading to changes in how app stores like Google Play are allowed to operate.
The legal dispute, which spanned three years, saw Epic Games, the creator of the popular game Fortnite, file a lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that the tech giant’s app store practices violated federal and California state antitrust laws.
Aside from challenging Google, Epic has been leading a high-profile campaign against both Apple and Google, arguing that the companies violate antitrust laws by mandating app users to utilize their payment systems and taking a substantial portion of in-app revenues. Both tech giants point to security concerns to justify their control over app transactions.
However, there are differences between Apple and Google’s approach to third-party apps, with iOS not allowing them and Android permitting “sideloading” of apps. Despite this, Google discourages the installation of external apps, making the process less straightforward than downloading from Google Play.
Despite the challenges, Epic emerged victorious in its case against Google Play, with the jury ruling in its favor.
Epic Games hailed the verdict as a win for app developers and consumers, asserting that Google’s app store practices are illegal and harm competition and innovation. The company also expressed support for impending regulations, such as the U.K.’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
On the other hand, Google intends to appeal the verdict, citing Android and Google Play’s provision of more choice and openness than other major mobile platforms.
This legal battle mirrors Epic’s similar fight against Apple, which ultimately resulted in a mixed ruling favoring Apple but also required the iPhone maker to allow alternative payment options within its software market.
Epic’s conflict with Google started in 2018 when it directed Fortnite players to direct downloads, avoiding Google’s Play Store. Although the game was briefly available on Google Play in 2020, it is no longer accessible on the platform or iOS devices through Apple’s App Store.
Despite the impending appeal from Google, this recent courtroom victory and the successful launch of Lego Fortnite, which drew over 2.4 million concurrent players, have bolstered Epic Games’ position.
