Google Asks Supreme Court โฃto Pause Appโ Store Ruling
WASHINGTON – Google has petitioned the Supreme Court to stay โคa federal court โคruling that found the tech โgiant โฃillegally โmaintains a monopoly in the Androidโ app distribution and payments market, escalating a legal battleโ with Epic โGames that could reshape the mobile app โlandscape. The move, filed after losing an appeal in July, seeks to โฃpause the implementation โขof court-ordered changes to Google’s Play Store policies โwhile the high court โconsiders theโค case.
A judge initially ruled in October 2024 that Google must โalter policies thatโข stifle competition within itsโ app store. The rulingโค would prevent Google from paying developers โto exclusively use its app store, prohibit it from blocking developers from informing consumers aboutโ direct download options, end the requirement to use Google’sโฃ billing features, and mandate access to its app catalog for rivalโค app โstores. Google argued the ruling unfairly restricted โฃits ability to presentโข its competitiveโค position againstโ Apple’s App Store and that the case wasโฃ improperlyโค decidedโ by a jury.
The core of the dispute centersโข on accusations thatโ Google leverages itsโค dominanceโค inโข the Android operating โขsystem to unfairly control the distribution of apps and โthe processing of payments, effectively squeezing developers and limiting consumer choice. Epic Games, the โฃcreator of Fortnite, initiated the โขlawsuit, alleging anti-competitive practices.
Google maintains that the ruling “will significantly harmโ user safety, limit choice, and undermineโฃ the โinnovation that hasโ always been central to the Android ecosystem,” as stated by Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs, โขin July. The company has โindicated it will continue to pursue its appeal, and this latest action signals a commitment to fighting the court’s decisionโฃ atโ the highest level. The Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether โคit will hear the case or grant the stay.