"Fortnite" developer Epic wins monopoly case against Google
The court must now decide what consequences will result from the jury's verdict. Google immediately announced an appeal against the verdict.
Epic Games took Google to court in 2020. The bone of contention was the fees of around 30 percent that Google retains on app sales. The"Fortnite" developer accused Google of an illegal monopoly.
Epic Games also sued the technology company Apple in 2020. In these proceedings, a Californian federal judge ruled in 2021 that Apple had to open up the payment system of its app store to developers. At the same time, the judge rejected Epic Games' accusation that Apple had a monopoly. The trial against Google only began in early November.
The operating systems from Apple and Google, iOS and Android, run on the majority of smartphones. Epic Games took on the two companies in 2020 and released an update with its own payment system that bypasses Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store. The two technology companies then pulled the plug on the "Fortnite" app for mobile devices, and Epic Games took the dispute to court.
Unlike iPhone manufacturer Apple, Google does allow Android users access to other platforms for downloading apps and games. However, Epic Games argues that the system is in fact hardly more open than Apple's iOS. Google secures its market power through contracts with other companies, among other things.
Apple and Google repeatedly argue that the commission on app sales of 30 percent is in line with the market. The revenue generated by this is necessary to guarantee the security of the app marketplaces and payments.
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- The epic victory of Epic Games against Google in the monopoly case has sparked discussions about the future of app stores on the internet giant's platform.
- Many industry experts believe that this verdict could potentially disrupt the dominance of Google's Play Store and the fees it charges for app sales.
- In response to the verdict, Twitter was abuzz with reactions, with some users praising Epic Games for standing up to Google's monopolistic practices.
- The trial between Epic Games and Twitter's rival, Apple, also took place in 2020, with the latter being ordered to open up its payment system on the Apple iOS platform.
- Despite its losses in both cases, Google and Apple continue to maintain that their commission rates are in line with industry standards and necessary for ensuring app security and payments.
- Meanwhile, Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game "Fortnite", has also taken on Apple's rival, Google, in a similar monopoly case, citing Google's alleged retention of around 30% of app sales fees.
- If Epic Games wins against Google, it could pave the way for other developers to challenge the dominance of these internet giants in the video game market and disrupt the monopoly process.
Source: www.stern.de
