Cn Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco imposed a decision on Google that could change the rules of the game in the world of mobile applications. The Mountain View firm is now forced to allow access to competing platforms on its Play Store, giving Android users more options for downloading applications. Google has already announced its intention to appeal this decision.
A long battle between Epic and Google
This judgment marks a key step in the fight led by Epic Games against Google. For several years, Epic has accused Google (and also Apple via iOS) of blocking the application market by forcing developers to go through their stores (Play Store and App Store) and use their payment systems, accompanied by commissions deemed excessive, up to 30%.
Last December, a jury found Google guilty of monopolizing the Android application distribution market. This new injunction therefore complements the creation of a technical and compliance committee to ensure the implementation of this opening of the Play Store to competition.
Google in the sights of regulators
This case is part of a broader context of antitrust pressure against Google. Last August, a judge in Washington had already ruled in favor of the American Department of Justice, which accused the giant of monopolizing the online search market. At the same time, Google faces other lawsuits over its dominance in the ad tech market.
In all of these cases, Google strongly disputes the accusations. However, Monday’s decision could well redefine the landscape of mobile application distribution for years to come.
