(Reuters) – A federal judge in California has granted Google’s request to temporarily halt his order to overhaul the Play Store by November 1. This order aimed to give consumers more control over how they download apps. Critics argue that the Google Play overhaul could promote competition, but Google defends its approach. #GooglePlayOverhaul
U.S. District Judge James Donato, located in San Francisco, made this ruling on Friday regarding an Epic Games antitrust case. Epic Games is known for creating Fortnite. Google argued that the order would pose major safety, security, and privacy risks to the Android ecosystem.
While Donato delayed the injunction for further consideration, he denied Google’s request to pause the order for the entire duration of the appeal.
“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,” Google said in a statement.
Epic stated that Judge Donato’s ruling represents a procedural step in the case. They also noted that the court denied Google’s request to delay changes. Furthermore, Epic emphasized that the court indicated Google’s appeal lacked merit.
Epic also accused Google of using “fearmongering” and baseless security threats to protect its control over Android devices while continuing to charge high fees.
In the lawsuit, a jury determined last year that Google had illegally monopolized how consumers download apps and make in-app transactions on Android. As a result, the judge’s order embraced many recommendations from Epic, including allowing third-party app stores and payment methods, and barring revenue-sharing deals and payments to preinstall Google’s Play store. Google has appealed the antitrust ruling to the 9th Circuit.
Google has not yet submitted its antitrust arguments to the appeals court. However, the company previously claimed it is not a monopolist. Google argues that its Play Store competes directly with Apple’s App Store. #GooglePlayOverhaul
Google also contended that Judge Donato’s injunction would unlawfully force it to engage in business with competitors, which they claim is unfair.
Implications for the Google Play Overhaul and Market Competition
Additionally, this pause enables Google to maintain its current practices while the appeals process unfolds. Ultimately, the outcome of the appeals will shape the future of app distribution. Thus, the Google Play overhaul remains a pivotal topic in discussions about consumer choice and market dynamics.
