What you need to know
- After suing Google several years ago over its alleged monopolistic practices regarding Android and the Google Play Store, Epic won a surprise jury verdict last year.
- As part of the decision, Epic was tasked with submitting an injunction motion to the court for consideration. Put simply, the court wants to know what changes Epic wants to see on the Google Play Store and Android.
- The lawsuit comes weeks after Epic announced that it would bring the Epic Games Store to iOS and Android as an alternative app marketplace “later this year.”
Last year, Epic won an antitrust case against Google related to the company’s practices in managing the Google Play Store and Android. But even when the verdict was in, we weren’t sure what Epic had won. Now we know exactly what Epic wants the open Google Play store to look like, as the company has laid out its wishes in a proposed ban and press release.
Simply put, Epic wants full parity between the experience of downloading apps and paying for them in the Google Play store, third-party app stores, or via sideloading. There are a lot of specifics related to that principle, which is stated in the 16-page ban proposal. Asking the company to remove screens that warn users about the consequences of downloading apps from unknown sources and eliminating deals with operators and OEMs that raise the profile of the Google Play Store are just a few examples.
Epic is also looking for an open marketplace for in-app purchases, where developers can connect to any place for digital payments. He called out Google’s User Choice Billing, which is a “fake compliance program,” according to Epic.
Basically, Epic doesn’t want Google to be able to offer something that other competing app marketplaces can’t. This includes exclusive apps, integration with Android APIs, and mandatory use of the Google Play store to connect with other Google products and services. Of course, Epic also wants to specifically prohibit Google from rewarding developers for bypassing the Google Play Store.
However, this proposed ban is still far from being implemented. Google has until May 2 to respond with its own submission, and at a hearing on May 23, the two sides will explain their positions with their economic experts. The judge’s final decision will likely look different than what Epic is currently seeking. Amidst all this, Google says it still plans to appeal the original ruling.
“Epic’s filing with the US Federal Court shows again that it simply wants the benefits of Google Play without paying for it,” a Google spokesperson told Android Central. “We will continue to challenge the ruling, as Android is an open mobile platform that faces stiff competition from the Apple App Store, as well as the app store on Android devices, PCs and game consoles.”