Key Points
- A federal judge temporarily paused an order requiring Google to overhaul its Play Store by November 1 due to Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit.
- Google argues that the injunction could introduce serious security and privacy risks to the Android ecosystem.
- Judge Donato rejected Google’s request to pause the order during its broader appeal but allowed a temporary delay.
- Google has appealed the antitrust findings, maintaining it is not a monopolist as its Play Store competes with Apple’s App Store.
A federal judge in California has granted Google’s request to temporarily pause a court order that would have required significant changes to its Android app store, Google Play, by November 1. This decision is part of an ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by Fortnite creator Epic Games. Based in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge James Donato ruled on Friday to allow the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals time to consider Google’s separate appeal to halt the order entirely.
Google had argued that the injunction, issued by Donato on October 7, could harm the company and introduce “serious safety, security, and privacy risks” into the Android ecosystem. The tech giant claimed the order would disrupt its ability to safeguard the platform, potentially compromising user security.
While Donato temporarily paused the order, he rejected Google’s request to extend the halt for the entire duration of its broader appeal in the case. Google expressed relief over the temporary delay, stating, “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.” The company maintains that the ruling poses undue risks to the Android ecosystem.
On the other hand, Epic Games responded by framing Donato’s decision as a mere procedural step, emphasizing that the court still dismissed Google’s claims as meritless. Epic argued that Google was using “fearmongering” tactics to defend its monopolistic control over Android devices and protect the revenue it generates from the Google Play Store.
Epic’s lawsuit against Google stems from a jury’s ruling last year that found Google had illegally monopolized how consumers download apps on Android devices and pay for in-app transactions. The court’s injunction adopted many of Epic’s proposed remedies in light of this decision.
The order requires Google to permit the downloading of third-party app stores or platforms via Play and allow for competing in-app payment methods. It also prohibits Google from paying device manufacturers to preinstall its app store or share Play Store revenue with other app distributors.
Google has already appealed the jury’s antitrust findings to the 9th Circuit, but the company has yet to present its antitrust arguments fully to the appeals court. Google contends that it is not a monopolist since its Google Play Store competes directly with Apple’s App Store.
