US court orders Google to open Play Store for 3 years, says rival app stores can be a part of it

In a significant shift in the mobile app landscape, Google has announced that it will permit rival third-party app stores on the Google Play Store. This move comes as a direct result of the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, and Google.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, alleged that Google’s restrictive policies and 30 per cent commission fee on in-app purchases constituted an unfair monopoly. Epic Games argued that these practices stifled competition and innovation in the Android app ecosystem.
US District Judge James Donato has delivered a landmark verdict in the Epic vs Google case, mandating Google to open the Google Play Store to competition for a period of three years. The ruling stated that Google Play must host rival third-party app stores. Additionally, rival stores will gain access to Google Play’s entire app catalog, unless developers explicitly opt out, according to The Verge.
This ruling promotes competition, allowing users to choose from diverse app stores and giving developers more distribution options.
“Google will have up to eight months from the date of this order to implement the technology necessary to comply with this provision, and the three-year time period will start once the technology is fully functional,” stated the ruling.
However, Google must implement security measures to protect users from harmful/illegal content and ensure compliance with laws and its content guidelines.
Additionally, Google “may not share revenue generated by the Google Play Store with any person or entity that distributes Android apps, or has stated that it will launch or is considering launching an Android app distribution platform or store.”
Google’s decision marks a substantial concession in the case. By opening up the Play Store to competing app stores, developers will now have more flexibility and autonomy in distributing their apps. This change aligns with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which aims to promote fairness and competition in digital markets.
Meanwhile, Google plans to appeal the Epic ruling, seeking to pause implementation pending review. The company contests the decision, citing three key points, including, Android shouldn’t be considered a standalone market; Google and Apple compete for app developers; and Android’s openness allows multiple app distribution channels beyond Google Play.
Google argues the ruling contradicts the upheld Apple decision, which recognised Android and iOS as competing in the same market.