Written by Dante Uzel on 03 May 2024 20:04
Google has strongly opposed Epic Games' request for an injunction aimed at Google's grip on the Android app in-app payment sectors. Google stated that Epic's proposal seeks to establish an extensive regulatory framework, giving the court unprecedented oversight over a vast and intricate ecosystem used by billions worldwide. Google rejected Epic Games' request.
Google officials stated "Rather than a judicial injunction against alleged violations of law, Epic asks this Court to create a new global regulatory regime that would set prices, impose ongoing duties to deal, and require the Court to micromanage on an ongoing basis a highly complex and dynamic ecosystem that is used by billions of consumers and millions of app developers and that supports the business of hundreds of OEMs and carriers around the world."
Following Epic's prior legal victory against Google, where a jury found Google guilty of anticompetitive behavior in both app distribution and billing.
Google argues that Epic's suggested measures, such as mandating the distribution of other app stores and limiting Google's negotiation freedom, would be overly restrictive. Moreover, Google asserts that its $700m settlement with US states, reached shortly after Epic's trial win, already addresses similar concerns, rendering Epic's proposed injunction unnecessary.
Google also claimed Epic's proposal will have consequences against the entire industry. Google officials stated "Epic's demands would harm the privacy, security, and overall experience of consumers, developers, and device manufacturers."
Epic Games officials argued that "Google has a history of malicious compliance and has attempted to circumvent legislation and regulation meant to reign [sic] in their anti-competitive control over Android devices. Our proposed injunction seeks to block Google from repeating past bad-faith tactics and open up Android devices to competition and choice for all developers and consumers."
Tags: Google Epic Games
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