Google isn’t Too Happy with the Latest Verdict in its Ongoing Dispute with Epic
To say that things have been rather unpleasant between Google and Epic Games is an understatement. Over the past few years, both companies have traded legal blows around antitrust lawsuits, competitive loopholes and more. Following a recent verdict issued in favour of Epic Games, Google recently made its thought clear regarding the decision – and it’s clear that this saga isn’t over yet.
A California Judge recently issued a permanent injunction that mandates Google to offer alternative digital storefronts in lieu of the Google Play Store. Part of the decision will require Google and Epic to form a three-person committee to oversee technical issues regarding Google’s compliance. The Mountain View company is also restricted from paying companies in order to reduce competition with the Play Store.
READ: Court Rules in Favor of Epic in Latest Chapter of Legal Battle Against Google
In response to this, Google states that the recent decision is contrary to another court’s rejection of similar claims that Epic made against Apple. The company maintains that Android has always been an open platform that has always offered users choice and flexibility, even more so than iOS. Google likewise states that it competes directly for consumers and app developers, with third-party digital storefronts always available to users if they so choose.
…these changes would put consumers’ privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices. Ultimately, while these changes presumably satisfy Epic, they will cause a range of unintended consequences that will harm American consumers, developers and device makers.
Epic Games’ legal disputes against Google date back to 2020, after the former alleged that companies like Google and Apple were deliberately pulling moves to limit competition in the digital content space.
Source: Google