by A US federal court decided on Thursday that Google had to open its Android operating system for competing app stores after the internet giant had lost an appeal in a cartel case submitted by Fortnite Maker Epic Games.
The verdict laid the way for the epic gaming business for operation in the Google Play Store, although the requirements of the latter that apps use the Google payment system that collects orders for transactions.
Margaret Mckeown, judge of the US Circuit Court, said in the opinion that a judicial body had decided to protect the original judgment because the parameters of the first judgment “were supported by the protocol and the type of market”.
Tim Sweeney, Managing Director of Epic, scored a contribution to X, in which he explained: “Total victory in the epic against Google Appeal!”
Google will continue his appointment of the judgment in December 2023, with the next event location being the Supreme Court of the United States.
“This decision will significantly impair the security of the users, restrict the selection and undermine the innovation, which was always of central importance for the Android ecosystem,” said Mulholland as a response to an AFP request.
“Our top priority continues to protect our users, developers and partners and maintain a safe platform while we continue our attraction.”
– ‘Feudal Security’ –
The Internet Rights Advocacy Group Electronic Frontier Foundation (Eff) argued in a letter in which “competition as a monopoly makes users safer”.
“Google and other tech giants offer ‘Feudal Security’, in which users rely on the moods of a monopolist to ensure their security,” said the EFF in an online contribution.
The Eff argued that the arrangement of the initial judge promises to improve the field in the Android operating system for competing app stores, including some with better review and curation policy.
The judge’s arrangement resulted from the defeat of Google in a cartel case brought by Epic, in which a California jury decided that Google has illegal monopoly through the Android Play Store.
A similar legal dispute between Epic and Apple in relation to the App Store.
Shortly after the start of Fortnite in the Apple App Store and in Google Play Store, Epic embedded secret code into the software of the game so that the players can handle the Tech giant payment processing systems, the Court avoids.
Epic named the “Project Liberty” range as part of a protest against the strict control of the main business for digital smartphone content.
