Epic Games Wants Google Play Store Reforms After Antitrust Win

Published by Shipra Sanganeria on Apr 16, 2024

Fact-checked by Kate Richards • Fact-checked by Kate Richards

Epic Games has filed a proposed injunction that would allow greater competition on Google’s Play Store after proving Google’s illegal monopolistic practices in the Android app distribution markets.

In the 16-page injunction submitted on April 11, the Fortnite video game makers are advocating for third-party app stores and billing systems to be placed on equal footing with Google Play and Google Play Billing.

Epic’s proposal seeks to limit Google’s control over the Android app ecosystem by giving users and mobile developers more freedom in distributing, downloading, and making in-app purchases. The proposal not only restricts Google’s agreements with device makers regarding pre-loading from third-party app stores but also allows free entry to third-party app stores into Google Play for six years.

Epic’s proposal wants Google to open the Android ecosystem to all developers, irrespective of their association with its Play Store. The proposal wants downloading of third-party store apps to be seamless and identical to apps downloaded from Google Play.

Additionally, it wants developers to have the freedom to use billing methods other than Google Play Billing.

“Google must also allow developers to communicate directly with their consumers, including linking from their app to a website to make purchases and get deals,” Epic said in a blog post.

Defending its stance, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Wilson White, said that the trial “made clear that we compete fiercely with Apple and its App Store, as well as app stores on Android devices and gaming consoles.”

US District Court Judge James Donato, who presided over the December antitrust lawsuit, will decide the fate of Epic’s proposed injunction on 23 May. Google has until 3 May to respond to Epic’s filing.

According to Reuters, Judge Donato is not bound to accept Epic’s proposal, leading to a long-drawn-out battle before any permanent order on this injunction is issued.

After losing to Epic, Google, in December 2023, agreed to pay $700 million to US states and consumers in an antitrust settlement against its Play Store monopolistic practices. Its close rival, Apple, seems not to lag far behind in the realm of antitrust litigation. In March 2024, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against Apple’s smartphone monopolistic practices by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).