Update from October 18th, 2024:
A representative from Epic Games reached out with the below statement regarding this case:
Today the Court made it clear that Google’s appeal is meritless and rejected their request to delay opening up Android devices to competition while the appeal is ongoing. Google continues to use fearmongering and unsubstantiated security threats to protect their control over Android devices and continue extracting exorbitant fees. The pause in the injunction is merely a procedural step to allow the Ninth Circuit time to decide Google’s request to stay the injunction pending appeal.
The original story from October 18th, 2024 follows below:
Google has secured a small but important win in its ongoing legal fight with Epic Games. A judge has delayed a ruling that would have forced Google to make significant changes to its Android app store rules. This delay gives Google some breathing room as it appeals the overall verdict in the case.
In December, a jury found that Google’s Play Store operates as an illegal monopoly. The judge in the case then ordered Google to make several changes to its app store policies, including allowing third-party app stores and payment systems. Google is appealing both the jury’s verdict and the judge’s order.
Last week, Google asked the judge to delay the deadline of November 1st for implementing the changes while it appeals. The judge agreed to a temporary stay, which means Google won’t have to make any major changes to its app store for now.
However, the judge did not delay one part of his ruling. Google is still barred from making deals with device makers that prevent them from pre-installing rival app stores. This small detail could open the door for more competition in the Android app store market.
The delay in the rest of the ruling is a setback for Epic Games, which has been fighting to open up app stores on both Android and iOS. Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, has argued that app stores like Google Play and Apple’s App Store are anti-competitive and stifle innovation. In contrast, Google expressed its elation with the decision in the below statement to The Verge:
We’re pleased with the District Court’s decision to temporarily pause the implementation of dangerous remedies demanded by Epic, as the Court of Appeal considers our request to further pause the remedies while we appeal. These remedies threaten Google Play’s ability to provide a safe and secure experience and we look forward to continuing to make our case to protect 100 million U.S. Android users, over 500,000 U.S. developers and thousands of partners who have benefited from our platforms.
– Google PR
I’m interested in seeing how this case plays out. I believe that more competition in the app store market would be a good thing for consumers, as it could lead to lower prices, more innovation, and a wider variety of apps. Furthermore, I’m also curious to see how long the appeals process drags this process out. We may not see a resolution to this case for years to come.