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According to the report, Google is asking the federal judge to overturn Epic Games’ ruling on App Store billing

According to the report, Google is asking the federal judge to overturn Epic Games’ ruling on App Store billing
Posted on | Posted on Taylor Reeves

Topline

According to Bloomberg, Google asked on Wednesday that a federal judge overturn its ruling in an antitrust case won by Epic Games last year as the Alphabet subsidiary seeks to avoid court orders requiring significant changes to the Google Play Store payment system.

Important facts

Google argued in a lawsuit that U.S. District Judge James Donato should have made a decision himself instead of holding a jury trial in the antitrust case last year when Google was ordered to allow app developers to introduce their own billing options alongside paying Google Play to allow system for in-app purchases.

Previously, app makers were limited to Google’s proprietary payment system for purchases on the Google Play platform.

Google also argued that Donato should have acknowledged Google’s competition with Apple in the smartphone market, citing another judge’s finding last year in a lawsuit also brought by Epic that Apple had not violated antitrust laws. said Bloomberg.

Donato’s ruling in favor of Epic Games forced Google to do business with rival app stores, Google claimed, arguing it was not legally required to do so.

Epic Games did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment, but told Bloomberg that Google’s appeal was based on “flawed arguments.”

Oral negotiations are scheduled for February 3, 2025.

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Big number

700 million dollars. This is how much Google has agreed to settle the antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games. About $630 million was to be “distributed for the benefit of consumers,” while $70 million was earmarked for a fund to be used by the 36 states that signed on to Epic’s lawsuit against Google.

Important background

The lawsuit filed against Google dates back to 2020, when Fortnite, the hugely popular video game developed by Epic, was removed from the Google Play Store after it attempted to use an external billing option without Google’s permission (Fortnite has an item -Shop where users can buy). In-game skins, weapon camouflages and real money items). The game was also removed from Apple’s App Store, leading Epic to file a lawsuit against Google and Apple, accusing the tech giant of forcing app developers to use its proprietary payment systems that included fees. Apple initially emerged from the lawsuit with Epic unscathed, but is now in a reignited legal battle with Epic and has been ordered to allow app makers to use purchasing systems other than their own when it comes to in-app purchases. Google was asked to do the same but was hit with a large compensation payment. It also promised to simplify the process of sideloading, which involves installing an app from the internet without using an app store.

Further reading

Google to pay $700 million to settle antitrust dispute – and change billing in Play Store (Forbes)

Apple and Fortnite Maker Epic Games Go to Court Again – Here’s Why (Forbes)

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