Court orders Google to open Android to competing app stores – DW – 10/08/2024

A US judge has ordered tech giant Google to open its Android smartphone operating system to rival app stores.

A California jury ruled Monday that Google exercises an illegal monopoly over its Android Play Store.

This is another setback for the company after another federal judge found in August that the Google search engine also constituted an illegal monopoly.

What does the verdict mean?

According to the order, Google cannot ban the use of in-app payment methods for three years and must allow users to download competing third-party Android app stores.

The order also prevents Google from making payments to smartphone makers for pre-installing its App Store and from sharing Play Store revenue with other app distribution partners.

The judge also ordered the formation of a three-member technical committee to oversee the implementation of the changes and resolve any disputes.

The order took effect from November 1st, the judge said, with some provisions required to be implemented by July 1st.

How did Google react?

Google is appealing the order. It was argued that the changes enacted by the judge would result in “a series of unintended consequences that would harm American consumers, developers and device manufacturers.”

“We look forward to continuing to make our case on appeal, and we will continue to advocate for what is best for developers, device manufacturers and the billions of Android users around the world,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president for Company Regulatory Affairs.

Phones running Android software account for about 70% of the global smartphone market.

Smartphone manufacturers can install the Android app for free as long as the Play App Store remains on the home page and other Google apps are pre-installed.

ftm/rmt (AFP, Reuters)