In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Google and Epic Games, a federal judge in California has granted Alphabet Inc.’s (GOOG) (GOOGL) request for a temporary stay on an order mandating a major revamp of its Google Play Store. This decision provides temporary relief to Google, allowing it to postpone the restructuring of its Android app marketplace.
The temporary stay was granted on Friday by U.S. District Judge James Donato. The judge’s decision stems from an antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer of the popular video game “Fortnite,” which alleged that Google had illegally monopolized the Android app ecosystem.
Initially, the court issued an order on October 7th requiring Google to make changes to its Play Store. However, Google swiftly sought a temporary stay on the order, arguing that immediate implementation would pose significant safety, security, and privacy risks to Android users. While Judge Donato agreed to pause the order temporarily, he rejected Google’s broader request to suspend it entirely during its appeal.
The temporary stay allows the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review Google’s separate appeal challenging the original order. Google welcomed the ruling, emphasizing its satisfaction with the temporary halt to what it deemed “dangerous remedies demanded by Epic.”
On the other hand, Epic Games dismissed the ruling as a procedural step and accused Google of leveraging “fear-mongering and unsubstantiated security threats” to maintain control over Android devices.
The roots of this legal dispute trace back to last year when a jury verdict found Google guilty of illegally monopolizing the way consumers download and pay for apps on Android devices. Google is currently appealing this verdict to the 9th Circuit.
Google’s argument revolves around the contention that the Play Store is not a monopoly because it directly competes with Apple’s App Store. The tech giant also raised concerns that the court-ordered changes could undermine Android’s security and privacy features.
This temporary reprieve provides Google with a crucial opportunity to strategize its defense against Epic Games’ allegations and potentially influence the outcome of the broader appeal. The court battle continues, and its resolution will have significant ramifications for the future of Android app distribution and the tech industry as a whole.
