Google’s Android Play Store is not ‘changing’ – for now; company “pleased” with the pause on the “dangerous remedy”

A federal judge has temporarily halted an order requiring Google to make sweeping changes to its Play Store, giving the company a respite in its ongoing antitrust battle with Epic Games.

US District Judge James Donato in San Francisco granted Google’s request to pause the injunction that would have compelled the company to revamp its Android app marketplace by November 1. The pause will persist until the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rules on Google’s separate request for an extended stay during its appeal of the case.

"We're pleased with the District Court's decision to temporarily pause the implementation of dangerous remedies demanded by Epic, as the Court of Appeal considers our request to further pause the remedies while we appeal," a Google spokesperson said.

The injunction stemmed from a December 2023 jury verdict that found Google had illegally monopolised Android app distribution and in-app payment processing. Judge Donato's order would have required Google to allow users to download third-party app stores through Play, permit alternative in-app payment methods, and stop paying device makers to preinstall Play.

Google argued that implementing these changes so quickly would introduce "serious safety, security and privacy risks" to Android users. The company has appealed the jury's antitrust findings to the 9th Circuit.

The case, brought by "Fortnite" maker Epic Games, is part of a broader legal and regulatory scrutiny of Google's app store practices. The Play Store generated an estimated $14.66 billion in sales in 2020, and analysts have warned that forced changes could significantly impact Google's revenue.

Epic Games has not yet commented on the latest development. The company has pursued similar antitrust claims against Apple, though it has largely been unsuccessful in that case.


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