In a significant victory for Google, a federal judge has granted the tech giant’s request to temporarily pause an order that would have forced it to overhaul its Play Store policies. The decision comes as part of a long-running antitrust lawsuit brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite.
The original order, issued by U.S. District Judge James Donato in October, would have required Google to allow Android users to download apps from outside the Play Store and to pay for in-app transactions without going through Google’s payment system. Google argued that these changes would pose serious security and privacy risks to Android users.
Judge Donato agreed to pause the order while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers Google’s appeal of the underlying antitrust ruling. However, the judge did maintain one aspect of the original order, requiring Google to refrain from making deals with carriers or device makers that block the preinstallation of rival app stores.
The temporary pause of the Play Store overhaul order is a significant win for Google, which has been facing increasing scrutiny over its market power in the mobile app ecosystem. The decision also raises questions about the future of antitrust enforcement in the tech industry.
Epic Games, which brought the original lawsuit against Google, expressed disappointment with the judge’s decision. The company argued that the pause was merely a procedural step and that Google’s claims of security risks were unfounded.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the mobile app industry. If the court ultimately upholds the original order, it could lead to a more competitive and open ecosystem for Android users. However, if Google is successful in its appeal, the status quo may be preserved.
The legal battle between Google and Epic Games is likely to continue for some time, and the final outcome remains uncertain.