Epic Games Wins Landmark Antitrust Case Against Google's Play Store Monopoly
Epic Games has won a significant antitrust lawsuit against Google regarding Play Store fees and agreements, with the jury unanimously finding Google liable for monopolization and unlawful trade practices.
Fortnite mobile game loading screen
The verdict specifically identified Google's monopolistic behavior in two key markets:
- Android app distribution market
- Android in-app billing services for digital goods and services transactions
The jury determined that Google:
- Willfully maintained monopoly power through anticompetitive conduct
- Created unlawful trade restraints through developer agreements
- Illegally tied Google Play Store use to Google Play Billing
- Harmed Epic Games and other developers through these practices
Prior to the verdict, settlement talks were held between:
- Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Android executives on December 6th (60-90 minutes)
- Sweeney and Google CEO Sundar Pichai on December 7th (60 minutes) Neither meeting resulted in a settlement.
Epic Games celebrated the verdict as "a win for all app developers and consumers around the world," stating it proves Google's practices are illegal and abuse their monopoly position to:
- Extract excessive fees
- Stifle competition
- Reduce innovation
The company emphasizes this case demonstrates the need for stronger legislation and regulations addressing mobile platform control, specifically citing:
- UK's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill
- EU's Digital Markets Act
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This verdict represents a significant shift in the app store landscape and may lead to substantial changes in how mobile app marketplaces operate.
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