NEWS  Google  December 12, 2023  Reading time: 3 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

In the dramatic conclusion of the epic legal showdown between Fortnite maker Epic Games and Alphabet's Google, the tech giant has emerged as the unexpected villain, and perhaps even more surprisingly, the loser. In a stunning turn of events, jurors found in favor of Epic on all counts, delivering a blow to Google's Play app store and potentially upending the entire app store economy.

The courtroom drama unfolded over a month, with accusations flying like Fortnite emotes. Epic Games, armed with pickaxes of justice, accused Google of operating an illegal monopoly, stifling competition, and imposing sky-high fees on app developers. The climax of this legal Battle Royale ended with Epic Games standing victorious, leaving Google to contemplate its defeat. In a move that could shake the very foundations of the app store landscape, the ruling, if upheld, might give developers more control over how their apps are distributed and, more importantly, how they rake in the cash. Google, alongside Apple, now finds itself at the center of a storm that could force it to rethink its 30% cut on app developers' earnings.

But fear not, citizens of the digital realm! Google, the self-proclaimed defender of the Android business model, has vowed to appeal the decision. Wilson White, Google's vice president of government affairs and public policy, stated;

"We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem."

Cue the dramatic music and enter the hero pose!

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, relishing in the triumph, took to social media site X to call out "the Google Play monopoly". It seems like Epic Games has found its real-life loot chest in the courtroom, filled with legal victories and a sense of sweet revenge. The allegations against Google range from illegally tying its Play store and billing service to systematically blocking alternative app stores. Epic's lawyers threw some spicy accusations into the mix, claiming that Google had a clandestine system for deleting texts and internal messages to cover up its dastardly deeds. Move over, Bond villains—Google is in town.

In a moment that could only happen in a legal Battle Royale, Epic purposefully violated Play store rules by skirting Google's billing systems. The result? Google banned Fortnite, and Epic retaliated with a lawsuit, setting the stage for the legal showdown that has now reached its climax.The trial has uncovered the inner workings of Google's app store practices, revealing a world of alleged illegality, monopoly abuse, and innovation suppression. Lawyers for Epic have successfully painted Google as the mustache-twirling villain in this saga, systematically blocking competitors and extracting exorbitant fees.

As the curtain falls on this (maybe) final episode of the saga, Google is left to ponder its defeat. Will the ruling hold, giving developers newfound power, or will Google rise again in a sequel to this legal drama? Only time will tell if this is truly the end of the line for Google's app store dominance. Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment in the unpredictable world of tech legal battles!

 COVER IMAGE BY FREEPIK / REVIEW SPACE