Epic Games Triumphs Over Google in Landmark Antitrust Case
Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has scored a significant legal victory against Google, as reported by The Verge. A jury concluded that Google misused its dominant position in the Android app market, harming Epic Games in the process. This verdict marks a pivotal moment in Epic's ongoing legal battles against major tech giants.
This win is particularly notable in the context of Epic's struggle to challenge the status quo of app distribution and payment processing on major platforms. Epic's crusade began in earnest in 2020 with the launch of "Project Liberty," aimed at reducing the hefty fees - sometimes up to 30% - imposed by platforms like Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.
In contrast to their less successful legal efforts against Apple, Epic has found favor in its case against Google. The jury found Google's practices in the app distribution market to be anticompetitive, particularly the linkage between the Google Play Store and Google's payment services.
Victory over Google! After 4 weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts. The Court’s work on remedies will start in January. Thanks for everyone’s support and faith! Free Fortnite! https://t.co/ITm4YBHCus
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 12, 2023
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the victory on X/Twitter, thanking supporters and hinting at forthcoming legal discussions regarding remedies. Epic's official statement emphasizes the ruling as a win for developers and consumers worldwide, aspiring to break down restrictive practices in app distribution.
Google, however, expressed disagreement with the verdict and plans to challenge it. Wilson White, Google's Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, reiterated their commitment to the Android ecosystem and their intent to defend the existing business model.
The final outcome, particularly regarding Epic's ability to establish its own platform on Android, awaits Judge James Donato's ruling. This case could potentially reshape the app store system that has been in place for over a decade. Meanwhile, Fortnite continues to be unavailable on the iPhone's App Store since its removal in 2020.
Source: IGN