Google scoffs at Epics proposed reforms to end Android app market monopoly

Epic Games has proposed a measure that would prevent Google from restricting the distribution of third-party apps outside of the Google Play Store on Android devices after proving that Google had an illegal monopoly on Android app distribution markets .

Epic suggests competition on the Android mobile platform would be opened up if the court orders Google to allow the distribution of third-party app stores for six years on the Google Play Store and prevents Google from entering into any agreements with device manufacturers let it stop from preloading third-party app stores. That would benefit both mobile developers and users, Epic argued in a broad proposal that would greatly limit Google’s control over the Android app ecosystem.

U.S. District Court Judge James Donato will ultimately decide the terms of the injunction. Google has until May 3 to respond to Epic’s submission.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to Ars that Google still plans to appeal the verdict even though Google already agreed to a $700 million settlement with consumers and states following the Epic win.

“Epic’s filing in US Federal Court shows again that it simply wants the benefits of Google Play without having to pay for it,” a Google spokesperson said. “We continue to challenge the verdict, as Android is an open mobile platform that faces fierce competition from Apple’s App Store, as well as app stores on Android devices, computers and game consoles.”

If Donato accepts Epic’s proposal, Google would have to grant equal access to the Android operating system and platform features to all developers, not just developers who distribute apps through Google Play. This would allow third-party app stores to own app updates, updating all apps downloaded from their stores as seamlessly as Google Play updates.

Under Epic’s terms, any app downloaded from anywhere would work identically to apps downloaded from Google Play, without Google imposing any unnecessary distribution fees. Similarly, developers could offer their own in-app purchase options and inform users of out-of-app purchase options, without having to use Google APIs or pay additional fees to Google .

Notably, Epic filed its lawsuit after Google pulled the Epic game Fortnite from the Google Play Store because Epic tried to offer an “Epic Direct Payment” option for in-game purchases.

“Google must also allow developers to communicate directly with their consumers, including linking from their app to a website to make purchases and get offers,” Epic said in a blog post. “Google should not use fake compliance programs like User Choice Billing to prevent competing payment options within an app or on a developer’s website.”

Not surprisingly, Epic’s proposed demand includes an “anti-retaliation” section specifically intended to protect Epic from any subsequent retaliation. If Donato agrees to the terms, Google would be in violation of the injunction if the tech giant fails to show that it is not “treating Epic differently than other developers” by making it “disproportionately difficult or costly” for Epic to develop , upgrade and market. your apps on Android.

This part of the mandate would seem important since, last month, Epic announced that an Epic Games Store would “come to iOS and Android” later this year. According to Inc, Epic told attendees at the Game Developers Conference that its app distribution platform will be the “first cross-platform store focused on games” that will work on “Android, iOS, PC and macOS.”