Advertisements by App Developers for More Affordable Pricing Outside Google Play Store Will Be Visible Soon
Google'sAndroid Play Store dominance is questioned, as U.S. courts view it as a monopoly. Judge James Donato recently ruled that the tech behemoth must cease stifling competition from rival app stores on Android. However, Google isn't content with this decision and plans to appeal.
The court's order prohibits Google from guaranteeing Play Store exclusivity for the next three years, effectively barring it from sharing Play Store revenue with third-party companies. Donato's final judgement claims these restrictions would provide entry points for competitors while minimally burdening Google.
More importantly, Android users might finally experience a wider range of choices, as Google must now offer the full Play Store catalog to third-party vendors. This could lead to better app pricing and more flexible in-app purchases outside the Play Store. Third-party app stores may even appear on Android devices, much like the Epic Games Store.
Of course, Android device manufacturers might need to make decisions regarding integrating third-party app stores. Still, it's undeniable that increased competition could be advantageous for Android users. The main challenge lies in how Google chooses to implement these changes, as the company has expressed reluctance in doing so.
Google's VP of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, announced that the company will appeal, arguing that Google cannot be a monopoly since Apple exists. Nevertheless, Google is asking the court for a stay, possibly because it has less than a month to implement the changes.
In a blog post, Mulholland stressed that developers have limited resources and must prioritize between platforms. She also highlighted Google's efforts in easing app development for Android, as Apple does for iOS.
The ruling stemmed from Epic's lawsuits against both Google and Apple, focusing on limitations regarding in-app purchases. In December, a jury found Google guilty of maintaining a monopoly for app stores and app purchases on Android. This decision follows over four years of legal battles between Google and its critics who accused the company of restricting third parties from competing.
Google did secure one victory. It still has the right to use its security apparatus to police app stores. However, it will have to charge third-party app stores for comparable security measures, should such security be required for apps proposed for the Google Play Store.
Contrarily, Apple has fared better in the courts, with its App Store remaining largely unchallenged. The Epic Games Store is currently available for EU customers but is still restricted on iOS in the U.S. Epic's tenacity is evident, as it recently brought a separate lawsuit against Samsung and Google over their "Auto Blocker" feature, which allegedly restricts third-party app stores. Samsung, in its defense, claims users can simply disable Auto Blocker.
- The court's decision forces Google to reconsider its exclusive relationship with the Play Store, preventing it from sharing Play Store revenue with third-party companies for the next three years.
- In the upcoming future, Android users may witness a diversity of app choices due to the requirement for Google to offer the complete Play Store catalog to third-party vendors.
- Google's VP of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, argues that Google should not be considered a monopoly because Apple exists in the tech market.
- Despite experiencing a regulatory setback, Google is still afforded the right to use its security apparatus to police app stores, but will now charge third-party app stores for comparable security measures.
