Key takeaways:
- The jury found that Google had used its power to impose restrictions on software developers that limited their ability to distribute apps outside of the Play Store.
- The ruling is a major setback for Google, as it could lead to increased competition in the app store market.
- It remains to be seen how Google will respond to the ruling, but it is clear that the company will have to make some changes to its business model in order to remain competitive.
A federal court jury has ruled that Google’s Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers. The verdict, which was reached unanimously after just three hours of deliberation following a four-week trial, is a major blow to a major pillar of Google’s technology empire.
The Play Store is the main place where hundreds of millions of people around the world download and install apps that work on smartphones powered by Google’s Android software. Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, filed a lawsuit against Google three years ago, alleging that the internet search giant has been abusing its power to shield its Play Store from competition.
The jury found that Google had used its power to impose restrictions on software developers that limited their ability to distribute apps outside of the Play Store. This was done in order to protect Google’s own payment system, which is used to purchase apps and other digital content.
The ruling is a major setback for Google, as it could lead to increased competition in the app store market. It could also result in increased costs for consumers, as Google may be forced to lower its fees for app developers. It remains to be seen how Google will respond to the ruling, but it is clear that the company will have to make some changes to its business model in order to remain competitive.
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