- Starting November 1, 2024, Google must allow third-party app stores to be distributed through Play Store and give these stores full access to apps.
- Although Google has been ordered to implement strict measures, not all of Epic's requests were granted.
- Google has announced its appeal of the court ruling, claiming it poses risks to user privacy, security, and fair app competition.
In an interesting development, tech giant Google has ordered to make major changes to its Google Play Store, following a legal battle with Epic Games. Starting November 1, 2024, Google must allow third-party app stores to be distributed through its official mobile marketplace Google Play Store, and give these stores full access to apps, unless developers choose otherwise.
While Google has been ordered with some strict measures, all of Epic’s requests were not granted
Judge James Donato, who oversaw Epic’s injunction against Google back in April, passed this order on Monday, October 7th, 2024. As reported by The Verge, Google can no longer force developers to use its billing system for Play Store apps or link apps outside of the store. In the verdict, Google is asked to let Android developers inform users about other payment options and app downloads outside of Play.
Google is also banned from offering incentives to developers to launch apps exclusively on Play, or from stopping mobile carriers from pre-installing rival app stores. These changes will last until November 1, 2027, so for three years in total. With this verdict, Epic Games came off with a big win, but there are still some verdicts that went in the favour of Google.
Epic Games’ requests, such as allowing apps to be sideloaded with just one click, were not granted. Google will still have some control over the process, ensuring the safety and security of the platform as it opens up the Google Play Store to rival stores. It can take any strictly necessary measures.
Both parties respond, Epic Games expresses delight as Google appeals the verdict
Now, it is pretty clear that the verdict has gone in the favour of Epic Games, which thus helps other marketplaces planning to enter the scene. Along those lines, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, called this a “victory” via his official X account. He added that the legal and regulatory fight will continue around the world as the court’s injunction only applies in the United States.
Meanwhile, Google announced it is appealing the court’s decision, saying that the ruling would threaten user privacy, security, and app competition. Google claims the decision wrongly treats Android as a separate market from iOS, despite both platforms competing for consumers and developers. Google insists Android is open, meaning it has a choice, offering users more options as opposed to iOS.
At the time of writing, Google plans to ask the courts to pause the changes while the appeal is underway. We will have to wait and see how this unfolds in the coming days, as it doesn’t seem like this will be ending anytime soon.
Read other related articles:
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- One Store eyes to take on the dominance of Apple and Google in the global mobile app market
- Google Play’s Indie Games Fund, a $2 million fund opens applications for studios in Latin America
- Rocket League Sideswipe to be removed from Google Play and App Stores and will be exclusively available on the Epic Games Store
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