In a landmark antitrust victory, Epic Games has won its lawsuit against Google, challenging the tech giant’s app store dominance. After a lengthy trial and just a few hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously found that Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly in the Android app distribution and in-app billing markets.
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The jury’s verdict confirmed several key points:
- Google holds monopoly power in both the Android app distribution and in-app billing markets.
- Google engaged in anti-competitive behaviour within these markets.
- Epic Games suffered harm as a result of Google’s anti-competitive practices.
- Google’s tie between its Play Store and Play Billing services is illegal.
- Google’s distribution agreement, Project Hug deals, and agreements with OEMs were all deemed anti-competitive.
This victory marks a significant win for Epic Games and app developers worldwide. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the decision as a “win for all app developers and consumers around the world,” highlighting that it exposes Google’s abusive practices and their detrimental impact on competition and innovation.
The verdict comes two years after Epic’s unsuccessful lawsuit against Apple, which focused on the App Store. Unlike the Apple case, Epic v. Google presented compelling evidence of Google’s anti-competitive behaviour, including internal documents and secret revenue sharing deals between Google, smartphone manufacturers, and large game developers.
Although Epic didn’t seek monetary damages, the potential impact of the ruling is significant. Judge James Donato will determine the appropriate remedies, which could include:
- Allowing app developers to offer their own app stores and billing systems on Android.
- Mandating changes to Google’s app store policies and practices.
While the exact nature of the remedies remains unclear, the jury’s verdict sends a strong message to Google and paves the way for a more open and competitive landscape for app developers.
However, the legal battle isn’t over yet. Google has announced plans to appeal the verdict, and Judge Donato will hold a hearing in January to discuss potential remedies. Epic’s request for an “anti-circumvention provision” to prevent Google from reintroducing similar practices was denied by the judge.
Despite the uncertainties, Epic’s victory marks a major step towards a fairer and more competitive mobile app ecosystem. The outcome of this case will have lasting implications for the future of app development and distribution on Android, potentially benefiting both developers and consumers alike.
