The finale

Google’s Injunction on Android Platform

• U.S. District Judge James Donato has issued an injunction forcing Google to open its Android platform to third-party app stores and alternative payment options.
• The ruling, set to take effect in November, is part of an ongoing legal dispute between Alphabet’s subsidiary and Tencent-backed Epic Games.
• The lawsuit began in 2020 after Google removed Epic’s game Fortnite from the Play Store for violating its payment terms.
• The ruling orders Google to halt practices that limit competition, such as paying companies to launch apps exclusively on its marketplace or preinstalling Google Play on new devices.
• It also mandates Google to allow rival app stores to be featured on its Play Store and for app developers to show alternative payment systems.
• Google argues these changes pose risks to user privacy and security and could limit developers’ ability to promote their apps.
• The ruling could dismantle Google’s dominance in the app marketplace by mandating Google to open its platform to third-party app stores and payment systems.
• The real impact could be lower costs for paid apps and in-app purchases for end consumers.