Google ordered to allow third-party storefront apps on Play Store following Epic Games’ complaint
As part of its legal battle with Epic Games, a judge has ordered Google to allow third-party storefront apps like the Epic Games Store on its Android app store starting in November.
The details:
Epic filed a lawsuit last week against Samsung and Google over the Auto Blocker feature in the former's Galaxy smartphone lineup. Epic claims that the setting adds another barrier to installing Fortnite and EGS as it prohibits the installation of apps that do not come from “official” app stores, with Samsung recently enabling it by default.
On October 7, a US judge ruled that Google had violated California's Unfair Competition Law, ordering the tech giant to allow third-party Android app stores on the Play Store. The ruling, which takes effect on November 1, 2024, will also allow third-party storefronts to offer full access to the Play Store's existing app catalog.
Google has also been barred from offering incentives, such as direct cash payments, to developers who release their apps exclusively on the Play Store. A similar ban will also prevent Google from offering anything to device manufacturers to prevent the pre-loading of rival app stores.
Google Play Billing will no longer be able to force developers to use it as the only in-app payment option, nor will it be able to prevent apps from directing users to payment options outside of the Play Store. This addresses one of the most common developer complaints about Google's platform, which is that additional fees typically result in higher in-app prices on mobile than on desktop.
Unsurprisingly, Google has announced that it intends to appeal the decision, claiming that it "missed the obvious" and that it could "put consumers' privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices."
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