Google will have to allow other app stores to operate within its Play Store.
These alternative stores will have access to the full catalog of apps available.
Google must implement these changes within eight months at the earliest.
Big changes are on the horizon for Android. On Monday, District Judge James Donato issued a final ruling in the Epic v. Google case. It calls for significant changes to the Google Play Store, which the company will need to open to rival stores. The ruling comes almost a year after a jury found that Google’s app store was a monopoly and engaging in anti-competitive behavior.
Google will have to implement a series of adjustments in the U.S. over the next three years. Although this is a limited period of time, experts expect the changes to have lasting effects on the Android ecosystem. Google will not only have to allow third-party stores in the Play Store, but these rival stores will also be able to access the entire Google Play catalog while respecting those developers who choose not to participate.
Epic’s Victory Over Google Spurs Historic Changes to Android
Donato’s ruling includes numerous substantial changes in response to Google’s anti-competitive practices:
- Google can’t require developers to use its billing system for apps distributed through the Play Store.
- Google can’t prohibit the use of alternative payment methods within the Play Store.
- Google must allow developers to offer alternative payment methods to users.
- Developers should also be able to set their own prices.
- Developers should be able to include links to download their apps outside of the Play Store.
- Google can’t share the revenue generated from the Play Store with any person or entity that distributes Android apps.
- Google can’t offer benefits to developers for launching their apps first on the Play Store or to be exclusive to the Play Store.
- Google can’t offer benefits for not releasing their apps on rival stores or having their apps’ features cut out.
- Google can’t offer benefits to device manufacturers or operators for pre-installing the Play Store.
- Google can’t offer benefits to device manufacturers or operators for refraining from installing rival stores.
Google has eight months to implement the required changes unless it finds a way to buy more time or challenge the ruling. The company will need to make numerous technical and legal adjustments to comply with the court’s decision. To facilitate this process, a three-person committee, chosen jointly by Epic and Google, will resolve any disputes that may arise.
Google Says It’ll Appeal the Judge’s Decision
Google promptly voiced its opposition to Judge Donato’s ruling. In a recent statement, the tech giant said that it intends to appeal the decision in order to prevent the enforcement of the announced measures. This is because Google believes that these measures “would put consumers’ privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices.”
Image | Mika Baumeister
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