Link: Epic just won its antitrust lawsuit against Google again

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a decision against Google, affirming its app store and payments system are illegal monopolies. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney declared a "total victory" following the ruling.

Google is set to challenge the decision further and may appeal to the Supreme Court. Judge M. Margaret McKeown emphasized that the case turned on principles of trial procedure and antitrust law.

The court's decision reinstates a permanent injunction that mandates significant changes to the Android ecosystem. Specifically, the injunction requires Google to open its app store to third-party stores and rival apps.

Epic plans to launch its Epic Games Store within the Google Play Store, as confirmed by an Epic spokesperson. This move is possible because the appeals court refused to stay aspects of the initial injunction.

Google contends that this ruling will compromise user safety, limit choice, and stifle innovation. Lee-Anne Mulholland of Google highlighted the company's commitment to maintaining a secure platform amid the ongoing legal battles.

Epic's legal challenge to Google was intensified by their strategic use of Fortnite, which was booted from the Google Play Store after Epic bypassed Google's payment systems. In contrast, Epic's similar lawsuit against Apple had less success, underlining the distinct legal and market positions of the two tech giants. #

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