Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google’s Play app store
14 Dec 2023
Epic Games, the maker of `Fortnite’, has won a resounding win in its antitrust case against Google’s Play app store for misusing its dominant position to operate as a monopoly.
The verdict by a Federal court in California, which comes as further proof of Google’s monopolistic use of its Android platform, is a significant setback for its Play store and app stores in general.
A jury has concluded that Google used its dominant position in the Android market to harm Epic, acknowledging the harm the Play app store has caused Epic.
The decision comes as a big blow to Google’s Android-backed Play store and all app stores that dictate terms to users.
The jury’s decision will lead to a deeper probe into Google’s use of Play store and the Android operating system and disrupt its app store operation and billing systems that have been accused of stifling competition.
The court will start the process of detailing remedies in January.
The verdict that comes after a four-week trial, brings hope to the game developer who has been fighting a series of legal battles for years together.
Epic has been fighting its legal battles against app stores since 2020, when it launched `Project Liberty’ to allow free use of ‘Fortnite’ by gamers in a bid to do away with the huge fees of up to 30 per cent charged by Apple and Google.
Epic, however, has been fighting a vain battle against Apple, where it has been losing most law suits, with Apple even managing to successfully counter-sue Epic for breach of contract.
Google said it planned to challenge the verdict.
