Epic decide lets Google maintain its Android app retailer closed to rivals — for now

Google simply netted a small however key victory in its Epic authorized battle. Final week, the corporate requested Decide James Donato to press pause on his November 1st deadline to drastically alter its Android app retailer guidelines. At present he did simply that, Epic and Google verify to The Verge, granting Google a brief administrative keep. Meaning Google could not have to vary its Play Retailer practices for years, if in any respect, whereas it appeals the decision.

In December, a jury unanimously determined that Google’s Android app retailer, the Play Retailer, had turn into an unlawful monopoly, although Google is now interesting that jury verdict in addition to the court docket’s order.

Technically, at present’s non permanent administrative keep solely pushes again the clock a bit, lengthy sufficient for the appeals court docket to weigh in on an extended keep, however Decide Donato reportedly advised the courtroom he suspects the Ninth Circuit will grant that longer keep, too — which might genuinely let Google off the hook until it will get via enchantment. The decide declined to present Google an extended keep himself.

Had Decide Donato left the unique deadline in place, his order would have probably let builders cease utilizing Google’s Play Billing as quickly as November 1st. Google additionally would’ve been barred from utilizing sure monetary incentives to maintain builders loyal to the shop. Plus, it will have kicked off an eight-month countdown to Google carrying third-party app marketplaces inside its personal Play Retailer. You’ll be able to learn concerning the full listing of modifications that Decide Donato ordered in his everlasting injunction embedded right here.

Initially, Decide Donato gave Google lower than a month to start cracking open its app retailer, and Google argued it ought to get the identical 90 days that Apple received to make app retailer modifications. (Google additionally argued that Epic, which filed each the Apple and Google lawsuits, didn’t object to a 90-day timeline.) With Donato’s unique deadline lifted, Google is no less than briefly off the hook — and has probably began down the identical path Apple took that permit it delay eradicating its anti-steering App Retailer guidelines for over two years.

If not for the keep, Decide Donato’s ruling might have had virtually instant results for customers, not simply builders. Microsoft mentioned it will begin letting folks purchase and play video games within the Xbox Android App, as an example, and Epic mentioned it’s bringing the Epic Video games Retailer to Google Play subsequent 12 months. Except the Ninth Circuit denies a keep, it could possibly be years earlier than these issues occur.

Google tells The Verge it’s happy with at present’s choice:

We’re happy with the District Court docket’s choice to briefly pause the implementation of harmful cures demanded by Epic, because the Court docket of Attraction considers our request to additional pause the cures whereas we enchantment. These cures threaten Google Play’s capacity to offer a protected and safe expertise and we look ahead to persevering with to make our case to guard 100 million U.S. Android customers, over 500,000 U.S. builders and hundreds of companions who’ve benefited from our platforms.

Epic declined to remark.