Epic Games has won a significant antitrust lawsuit against Google regarding Play Store policies and fees. A unanimous jury found Google liable for monopolization, unlawful restraint of trade, and tying under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The jury specifically identified two relevant antitrust markets:

• Android app distribution market
• Android in-app billing services for digital goods and services transactions

Key Verdict Findings:

• Google willfully maintained monopoly power through anticompetitive conduct
• Google's developer agreements, competitor deals, and mobile-device manufacturer pacts harmed Epic
• Google illegally tied Play Store use to Google Play Billing

Before the verdict, settlement attempts occurred between:

• Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and Android executives (60-90 minutes)
• Sweeney and Google CEO Sundar Pichai (60 minutes) Neither meeting resulted in an agreement.

Epic Games celebrated the verdict as "a win for all app developers and consumers worldwide," stating it proves Google's app store practices are illegal and monopolistic. The company emphasized the need for legislation like the UK's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and the EU's Digital Markets Act to address mobile platform control.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the 30% fee charged to Play Store developers, which Epic argues stifles innovation, reduces consumer choice, and inflates prices. This verdict may significantly impact how mobile app stores operate and charge developers in the future.

Related Articles

Previous Articles