Google ordered to open its Android app store to competitors

A US judge has issued a permanent injunction ordering Google to open its Android marketplace to competitors.

The ruling, which will come into force in November, means Google will not be allowed to block the distribution of third-party Android app stores through Google Play.

It will also have to grant third-party app stores access to Google Play’s full catalogue of apps.

The ruling is the most significant development yet in Epic Games’ long-running antitrust lawsuit against Google, which said on Monday that’s it’s planning to appeal today’s verdict.

Beginning on November 1, 2024, for a three-year period in the US:

• Google will not be allowed to pay developers to launch apps first or exclusively through the Play Store
• It will be barred from offering manufacturers or carriers incentives to pre-install Google Play (or to not pre-install rival stores) on new devices
• The company won’t be able to force app makers to use Google Play Billing
• It may not require a developer to set a price based on whether Google Play is used
• Google won’t be able to restrict developers from pointing users to external payment options outside of the Play Store

The legal battle began in August 2020 after Epic moved to circumvent platform fees with a new direct payment option in Fortnite, leading to the game’s removal from Google Play and the App Store.

Epic subsequently took legal action against both Google and Apple “to end [their] anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces”, but effectively lost the Apple case in 2021, its only silver lining being the judge’s ruling that Apple could no longer restrict developers from pointing users to external payment options where Apple didn’t get a cut.

In its response to Monday’s ruling, Google said it plans to appeal the verdict.

“As we have already stated, these changes would put consumers’ privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs.

“Ultimately, while these changes presumably satisfy Epic, they will cause a range of unintended consequences that will harm American consumers, developers and device makers.

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“These Epic-requested changes stem from a decision that is completely contrary to another court’s rejection of similar claims Epic made against Apple — even though, unlike iOS, Android is an open platform that has always allowed for choice and flexibility like multiple app stores and sideloading.

“We are appealing that underlying decision and we will ask the courts to pause Epic’s requested changes, pending that appeal.”