Google vs. Epic: App Store Changes Postponed After All
Google now has a bit more time to implement the changes to its Android ecosystem ordered by a US court. Epic agrees to the delay.
Android logo.
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Google does not have to implement the changes to its Android ecosystem, which stem from a court ruling at the end of 2023, by October 22 after all. Both parties in the legal dispute, Google and plaintiff Epic, have agreed to a further postponement of the deadline, The Verge reports. The new deadline is now October 29.
It is not clear why Epic Games has agreed to this renewed postponement. In December 2023, a jury found in favor of Epic on all counts after the company behind “Fortnite” and the Unreal Engine accused Google of exploiting its Android monopoly and engaging in anti-competitive practices. A year later, Judge James Donato laid out the measures by which Google is to open up its Android ecosystem. Google has continually postponed these directives with various legal remedies.
Dispute goes to the Supreme Court
The company intends to appeal to the Supreme Court by the end of October. However, the highest US court has already decided that it does not wish to suspend the directives from the 2023 judgment for now. Accordingly, Google would have to implement the regulations at least temporarily from October 29—even while the appeal proceedings are ongoing at the Supreme Court.
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According to the directives set in 2023, Google must, among other things, stop mandating the Google Play Billing System for billing for apps downloaded from the Play Store. Developers should be allowed to use their payment methods and would no longer have to pay commissions to Google in this case.
In addition, Google must open its Play Store to alternative stores. Android apps should also be available in alternative stores by default, as long as developers do not actively opt out. Alternative app stores must also be offered in the Play Store, so the detour via APKs should be eliminated.
Not all of these directives will take effect on October 29. More complex changes, such as full access to the app catalog for independent stores, will not need to be implemented until July 2026. The directives are to apply for three years.
(dahe)
