Google Must Change App Store Practices

A US Judge is set to rule on actions Google must take to allow for healthy competition concerning its Google Play app store.

The ruling follows a 2020 lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. In it, Epic Games claims that Google’s practices related to its app store stifle competition and breach antitrust laws. Epic Games also submitted a similar lawsuit against Apple in 2020.

On August 14, U.S. District Judge James Donato heard from both Epic Games and Google regarding Epic Games’ proposed changes to Google’s app store.

Epic Games, which won its lawsuit in December, is not seeking damages from Google but rather looking to change the way things work. As such, it has submitted a number of proposals to change the way Google behaves, such as no longer automatically installing Google Play Store on Android devices, allowing Android users to download apps from competing app stores, or changing the rules of the game when it comes to in-app purchases.

Judge Donato has already commented that Epic’s proposals are “open-ended and too vague” and would like to make sure the rules are clear and fair for all parties.

“This case is about the opportunity to compete generally. I am not looking for relief that is going to give a helping hand just to Epic,” Judge Donato said. “What we are doing is leveling the playing field and lifting the barriers.”

Judge Donato said the ruling will be published in the next few weeks and set up a three-person “compliance and technical committee to implement and monitor the injunction.”

While Google raised issues about the cost and difficulty of implementing some of the proposed changes, the Judge responded, “You’re going to end up paying something to make the world right after having been found to be a monopolist.”

This is Google’s second major setback in recent weeks. A US court recently ruled that Google breached antitrust rules related to its practices with Google Search.