Epic Games, the developer of the popular video game Fortnite, has secured a major legal win as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a jury verdict declaring Google’s Android app store and billing system as illegal monopolies. The decision enforces a previously paused permanent injunction that requires Google to change its practices, including allowing third-party app stores within the Play Store and removing restrictions that force developers to use Google Play Billing. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney called it a “total victory” on social media. The court ruled that these practices harmed competition within the Android app distribution and in-app billing markets. The jury was persuaded by evidence, including internal emails and confidential deals between Google and device makers, which revealed attempts to suppress competition.
Google now has a limited time to implement changes. Although it has secured a temporary stay while appealing further, other parts of the injunction will take effect within weeks unless the courts pause them again. “This decision will significantly harm user safety, limit choice, and undermine the innovation that has always been central to the Android ecosystem,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Global Head of Regulatory Affairs. Epic has confirmed plans to launch its app store within the Google Play Store.
