After only a week since a Epic Games filed a second lawsuit against Google that included Samsung and over 4 years since the Epic Games filed its first suit against Google which lumped Apple into the fight, a judge has made a ruling in favor of Epic Games and third-party application stores alike.
Effective November 1st, 2024 to November 1st, 2027, Google must abide by these rules:
- Stop requiring Google Play Billing for apps distributed on the Google Play Store (the jury found that Google had illegally tied its payment system to its app store)
- Let Android developers tell users about other ways to pay from within the Play Store
- Let Android developers link to ways to download their apps outside of the Play Store
- Let Android developers set their own prices for apps irrespective of Play Billing
Google is restricted from:
- Share app revenue “with any person or entity that distributes Android apps” or plans to launch an app store or app platform
- Offer developers money or perks to launch their apps on the Play Store exclusively or first
- Offer developers money or perks not to launch their apps on rival stores
- Offer device makers or carriers money or perks to preinstall the Play Store
- Offer device makers or carriers money or perks not to preinstall rival stores
Epic Games said post verdict:
Today’s verdict is a win for all app developers and consumers around the world. It proves that Google’s app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation.
Google has made it very clear that plan to appeal the decision brought by the judge. However, this verdict seems to have hinged on “secret revenue sharing” between Google, smart phone developers, and game developers in contrast to the case Apple won two years ago when they were sued by Epic Games. Until then, Judge Donato is giving Google eight months from now to come up with a system, with a three-person technical committee jointly chosen by Epic and Google reviewing any disputes and will offer developers the ability to opt out of being listed in rival Android app stores.