Google has temporarily avoided major changes to its Play Store as a US federal judge blocked an injunction in its ongoing legal battle with Epic Games.
Although most of the changes are temporarily paused, one part will still take effect starting November 1.
Google will no longer be allowed to tie payment or revenue-sharing deals to the exclusive pre-installation of its Play Store on devices.
Google has temporarily avoided major changes to its Play Store as a US federal judge blocked an injunction in its ongoing legal battle with Epic Games. The case, part of a larger antitrust lawsuit, accuses Google of unfairly controlling the Android app market and stifling competition.
On October 7, US District Judge James Donato issued an injunction that could have forced Google to make significant changes, such as allowing alternative payment systems within apps and stopping payments to device manufacturers for pre-installing the Google Play Store. These changes were seen as potentially disruptive, given that Google’s Play Store generates about $14.66 billion in revenue annually.
Also read: Google appeals to halt Play Store changes ordered in Epic case, citing user safety risks
Google argued that implementing these changes too quickly could lead to serious risks for Android users, including security and privacy issues. The judge agreed to put the order on hold, giving Google some breathing room while the company appeals the decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Although most of the changes are temporarily paused, one part will still take effect starting November 1. Google will no longer be allowed to tie payment or revenue-sharing deals to the exclusive pre-installation of its Play Store on devices. This rule will be in place for three years, lasting until November 1, 2027.
Also read: Google loses antitrust fight to Epic Games, judge orders to revamp Play Store policies
The legal dispute stems from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the creator of the popular game Fortnite. Epic accuses Google of using its dominance in the Android app market to unfairly limit competition and hurt consumers. In 2023, a ruling found that Google had a near-monopoly over the market, which led to the current legal battle.
While Google has temporarily avoided bigger changes, it warns that Epic’s demands could compromise the safety of the Android ecosystem. On the other hand, Epic claims that Google is exaggerating security risks to defend its market dominance.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
