Google’s battle with Epic games over app store policies has escalated, reaching the Supreme Court as of today, October 30, 2023. The legal clash, stemming from Epic’s 2020 defiance of Play Store rules with its game “Fortnite,” centers on the control Google exerts over the Android ecosystem and the billions of dollars generated through its Play Store. The outcome could reshape how app developers distribute software on android devices and impact consumer choice.
the dispute began when Google removed “Fortnite” from the Play Store after Epic offered a direct payment option, bypassing Google’s standard 30% commission on purchases. Epic subsequently sued both Google and Apple, alleging anti-competitive practices. Court documents revealed agreements between Google and device manufacturers like samsung, where Google shared Play Store revenue in exchange for preferential placement of the Play Store on their devices. This arrangement, Epic argues, stifles competition from choice app stores and limits user options. Google maintains its policies are necessary for maintaining security and fostering innovation within the Android platform, and that the commission fees support the ecosystem. Currently, installing alternative app stores requires users to modify Android’s security settings to allow installation via APK files.
