Epic Games Wins Legal Battle Against Google's Monopoly

Fortnite Creator Epic Games Triumphs in Legal Battle Against Google's Monopoly Claims

In a significant courtroom victory, the creator of the renowned game Fortnite, Epic Games, emerged triumphant in a US court battle against Google. The jury's decision concluded that Google had operated an unlawful monopoly, favoring its app store over competitors.

Epic Games' Legal Victory Over Google

Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging the search giant of unfairly establishing dominance in its app store market, notably overruling rivals. The store serves as a primary platform for app installations on Google's Android-powered smartphones, catering to hundreds of millions of users.

Response from Epic Games and Google

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, lauded the jury's decision via X (formerly Twitter), hailing it as a "Victory over Google." While Google expressed its intention to challenge the verdict, Sweeney welcomed the outcome and highlighted that the court would deliberate on compensation matters in January.

Impact on Android's Business Model

Despite the legal setback, Google is staunchly defending its business practices, emphasizing the openness and variety offered by Android and Google Play compared to other mobile platforms.

Challenging Google's Play Store Dominance

The case also raised concerns about Google's transaction fees of up to 30% imposed on Android app developers and the link between its Play Store and billing service, mandating the use of both for app inclusion.

Epic Games vs. Apple: Legal Battles Continue

Epic Games, known for its Fortnite game, confronted Apple in a similar antitrust lawsuit in 2020. Although a US judge largely favored Apple in 2021, Epic contested the ruling in 2022, stressing the necessity for legislation and regulations addressing the grip of Apple and Google over smartphones.

The legal tussle exposes the need for industry oversight, particularly concerning smartphone market dominance and its impact on competition, innovation, and user choice.

Also Read: Calling All Teams: PUBG Esports Opens Applications for 2024 Global Partner Team Program