Google’s Legal Setback in Epic Games Battle Over Play Store Regulations
In a significant legal blow for Google, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a federal court ruling that mandates the company to make substantial changes to its Play Store operations. This ruling comes as part of an ongoing lawsuit with Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, which asserted that Google has been maintaining an illegal monopoly in app distribution.
Epic’s Victory Affirmed
The recent decision confirmed the findings from the December 2023 trial, where a jury sided with Epic Games, concluding that Google had indeed engaged in anti-competitive practices. The jury determined that Google forced developers to use its payment system, thus imposing hefty commission fees ranging from 15% to 30%.
Allegations Against Google
Epic Games presented compelling evidence revealing that Google sought to suppress competition by financially incentivizing developers to refrain from creating alternative app stores. This evidence played a pivotal role during the trial and ultimately influenced the jury’s decision.
Judge Donato’s Order and Its Implications
The substantial troubles for Google began when Judge James Donato issued a ruling in October of the preceding year. The order instructed Google to:
- Enable users to download competing app stores via the Play Store.
- Allow developers to utilize their own billing systems for in-app purchases.
- Cease blocking developers from informing users about less expensive purchasing options available outside the app.
Unhappy with these directives, Google filed an appeal shortly thereafter in November, hoping to overturn the judge’s order.
Diverging Reactions to the Recent Ruling
In response to the courts’ latest ruling, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, expressed his enthusiasm on social media platform X. He celebrated the decision, announcing that “the Epic Games Store for Android will be coming to the Google Play Store, ”a move that strengthens Epic’s position in the marketplace.
Thanks to the verdict, the Epic Games Store for Android will be coming to the Google Play Store! It’s already available worldwide from our web site, https://t.co/f77ZSrBMGd. Epic Games Store for PC already carries several other PC stores (https://t.co/92elnB3IGv, GOG Galaxy).https://t.co/4ndkMmhLUX
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) July 31, 2025
Conversely, Google’s VP of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, voiced her concerns over the ruling, stating it would “significantly harm user safety, limit choice, and undermine the innovation that has always been central to the Android ecosystem.”Mulholland emphasized that the company intends to continue its appeals process.
Looking Ahead: Google’s Options
During the appeals process, Google’s defense primarily revolved around claims of intense competition from Apple and arguments asserting that compliance with the court’s orders could jeopardize Android’s security framework. With the appeals court unswayed by these arguments, Google’s avenues for further action are dwindling. The company may consider appealing to the U. S.Supreme Court as its final option.
For further details, refer to the original source on Reuters.
For additional developments on Epic Games and its initiatives, check this link.
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