California, Sunday, October 13, 2024-Google has officially filed an appeal against a recent court decision in the Epic v. Google case, following a ruling by Judge James Donato that mandates changes to the company’s app store practices.
The ruling, made earlier this week, requires Google to allow third-party app stores on its Google Play platform and to drop its requirement that apps use Google’s billing system.
The changes are set to take effect on November 1, 2024, and remain in place until November 2027.
Google argues that these changes could undermine consumer privacy and security while harming developers and competition. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s VP of regulatory affairs, stated that the decision would have unintended negative consequences for American consumers and developers. Despite Google’s objections, the ruling is already having a notable impact. Epic Games announced plans to launch the Epic Games Store on Google Play in 2025, and Microsoft will enable users to buy and play games directly in the Xbox Android app as soon as next month.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, which accused Google of anti-competitive practices related to its app store policies. The case is part of a broader trend where tech giants are facing increased scrutiny and regulatory pressure over their control of digital ecosystems. Google, while defending its platform’s privacy and security standards, now faces significant operational changes as it navigates ongoing legal battles in the U.S. and abroad.
