A defeat at the Supreme Court: Google must prepare changes to the Play Store
Two years ago, Google was forced to make extensive changes to the Android Play Store. In an attempt to prevent this, it has now suffered another setback.
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In a one-line ruling, the US Supreme Court has succinctly rejected Google's application for a stay of the judgment in the legal dispute against Epic. The Supreme Court did not provide a reason for its decision. According to the US company, it must now quickly begin to implement the judgment. In its application to the court, Google had stated that the obligation to adjust the Play Store will come into force on 22 October if no postponement is granted. However, Google does not want to give up and has assured US media that it will continue to take legal action against the requirements despite its disappointment with the decision. The head of Epic Games, on the other hand, has welcomed the decision.
Google is fighting back tooth and nail
The dispute concerns the far-reaching judgment against Google, which was handed down by a jury in December 2023. The court ruled in favor of the gaming company Epic Games on all points. The company behind “Fortnite” and the Unreal Engine had accused Google in court of exploiting its Android monopoly and anti-business practices. The company had filed a lawsuit after provoking the ejection of “Fortnite” from the Play Store with a calculated breach of the rules. In the course of the proceedings, Epic argued, for example, that Google had entered into agreements worth billions with device manufacturers such as Samsung to favor its app store on the manufacturers' devices.
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Google's Android business model is largely based on commissions, which Google collects on every purchase made via the Play Store. Alternative app stores threaten this system. Google also claims that an open Play Store would be less secure. However, this has not worked, and Google has therefore been obliged to open its Play Store to alternative stores. In addition, all apps must also be available in alternative stores by default, as long as the developers do not actively reject this. Google has now exhausted almost all legal remedies against this, but the company is still planning an official appeal to the Supreme Court. The application that has now been rejected was merely for a stay of the judgment.
(mho)
