- US judge orders Google to open app store to rivals
- The court’s decision is seen as a major blow to Google’s dominance
- Google plans to appeal, arguing the ruling could compromise user privacy and security
US judge orders Google to open app store to rivals
A US federal judge has ruled that Google must allow rival Android apps onto its Google Play store for the next three years, starting in November. This ruling comes from a lawsuit by Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, accusing Google of stifling competition on Android devices.
The court’s decision is seen as a major blow to Google’s dominance, with additional remedies requiring Google to share its app catalogue with competing app stores. Google plans to appeal, arguing the ruling could compromise user privacy and security, and reduce competition.
The case follows a December jury verdict siding with Epic, claiming Google unfairly controlled app distribution and payments. Legal experts believe the ruling could encourage more competition in the app market and potentially lower costs for consumers. Critics have long complained about Google’s fees of up to 30% on payments through its store.
This ruling is part of a growing number of legal challenges faced by Google, including antitrust cases related to its dominance in online search and digital advertising markets.
