Epic CEO Tim Sweeney may not criticize Google until 2032

Epic and Google have settled after a years-long legal dispute over the Play Store: As part of this, Google is adjusting its business model, which Epic CEO Tim Sweeney apparently strongly supports. According to court documents, the settlement includes not only the adjustment of Play Store policies and the ability to install alternative app stores on Android devices: Tim Sweeney, one of the loudest critics of Apple's and Google's business practices, has committed not to criticize Google Play Store practices anymore.

Gag order for Tim Sweeney

The US tech magazine The Verge quotes from the contract documents: According to this, Epic, and thus the usually very opinionated CEO Tim Sweeney, is waiving the right to sue and criticize Google on some agreed-upon points. These include Google's practices in app distribution, fees, and the treatment of games and apps. Sweeney is also waiving the right to advocate for further changes to Google Play Store policies. Furthermore, he is not allowed to criticize Google Play Store practices – rather, he must praise them in the future.

The agreement further states that “Epic believes that the Google and Android platform, with the changes in this term sheet, are procompetitive and a model for app store / platform operations.” Epic will therefore advocate for and promote this opinion.

However, Epic may continue to be part of the “Coalition for App Fairness,” an organization that Epic has funded in its dispute against Google and Apple. However, it may not advocate for further changes to Google's policies and practices that are the subject of the agreements.

No criticism until 2032

This is also confirmed by the Epic Games Newsroom on X: “Epic and Tim have agreed not to criticize Google regarding app store distribution and fees. All other topics are still on the table, and criticism is fair game.”

According to the signed document, it expires five years after Google's last change to service fees. Google plans to implement this by September 30, 2027, at the latest. Accordingly, Sweeney may not be able to express criticism of Google's Play Stores until September 2032. Sweeney has already sent his first laudatory tweets in Google's direction. On Wednesday, he wrote, “Google is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we've settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE!”

(afl)