Settlement Reached Between Epic Games and Google
In a significant development, Epic Games and Google have confirmed that they have settled their protracted legal disputes that began in August 2020, coinciding with Epic’s legal action against Apple. This long-standing rivalry has centered around accusations of monopolistic practices by both tech giants.
Victory for Epic Games
Epic Games, the creator of the popular titles Fortnite and Unreal Engine, recently achieved a substantial legal triumph against Google, culminating in a total victory in December 2023. This victory was reaffirmed through subsequent appeals. In a further turn of events, Google attempted to challenge this outcome at the Supreme Court earlier this month but was unsuccessful.
New Collaborative Changes to the Android Ecosystem
Just hours ago, Sameer Samat, Google’s President of the Android Ecosystem, shared an optimistic update on X. A newly proposed set of reforms, crafted in partnership with Epic Games, is designed to enhance options for developers, lower fees, and foster increased competition, all while maintaining user safety standards.
Reaction from Epic Games’ Leadership
Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement in a tweet. He stated:
Google has made an awesome proposal, subject to court approval, to open up Android in the US Epic v Google case and settle our disputes. It genuinely doubles down on Android’s original vision as an open platform to streamline competing store installs globally, reduce service fees for developers on Google Play, and enable third-party in-app and web payments. This is a comprehensive solution, which stands in contrast to Apple’s model of blocking all competing stores and leaving payments as the only vector for competition.
Key Features of the Settlement
The settlement introduces significant changes, including:
- A reduction in fees to 20% for in-app purchases that provide gameplay advantages and 9% for those that do not.
- Options for alternative payment methods to be showcased alongside Google Play Billing in applications, including the Epic Games Store.
- Provisions that will allow the installation of a Registered App Store from a website, facilitated by a straightforward installation process using neutral language. This change is set to commence with the next major Android release and will extend through June 30, 2032.
A Global Impact
Notably, these modifications are expected to affect users worldwide, rather than being limited to the US market. Epic Games believes this new direction surpasses earlier changes mandated by Judge Donato. Tomorrow, both companies plan to present these proposed changes to the presiding judge, and if approved, it will mark the formal conclusion of their dispute.
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