In a move that echoes Apple’s strategy during its legal battle with Epic Games last year, Google has filed an appeal against the recent antitrust verdict that requires it to open its Play Store to third-party marketplaces. The tech giant is also seeking a court order to suspend Epic’s demands for distributing competing app stores and modifying the Play Store’s payment system.
Google argues that the verdict contradicts another court’s dismissal of similar claims made by Epic against Apple. In its appeal, the company asserts that Android is not a standalone market but rather operates in direct competition with Apple’s iOS. Google emphasizes Android’s role in expanding choice, reducing prices, and making smartphones and apps more accessible to a wider audience. The company claims that the initial ruling and Epic’s subsequent demands threaten these benefits and undermine Android’s ability to compete with iOS.
This legal battle stems from Epic’s recent antitrust lawsuit against Google and Samsung. Epic alleges that the two tech giants have conspired to protect the Google Play Store from competition, significantly limiting consumer choice. The lawsuit focuses on Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature, which Epic claims was specifically designed to discourage users from downloading apps from sources other than Google’s Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store. In response, Samsung has denied Epic’s allegations, calling them baseless.
This legal dispute highlights the ongoing tension surrounding app store ecosystems and the competition between major tech players. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how app stores operate and the choices available to users in the future.
