US judge orders Google to open up app store to competition
Al Jazeera
A US judge said that for three years, Google must allow users to download competing third-party Android app platforms or stores.
A United States judge has ordered Alphabet’s Google to overhaul its mobile app business to give Android users more options to download apps and pay for transactions within them, following a jury verdict last year for Fortnite maker Epic Games.
The injunction on Monday by US District Judge James Donato in San Francisco outlined the changes Google must undertake to open up its lucrative app store Play to greater competition, including making Android apps available from rival sources.
Donato’s order said that for three years, Google could not prohibit the use of in-app payment methods and must allow users to download competing third-party Android app platforms or stores.
The order restricts Google from making payments to device makers to preinstall its app store and from sharing revenue generated from the Play store with other app distributors.
Epic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
