Epic Games’ legal battle against Google began a few years ago, and now we finally have a decision from the judge handling the case. This is a decision that will bring Historical changes for the Google app store and for the Android operating system in general.

Judge James Donato made the final decision in Epic Games’ lawsuit against Google, ordering several significant changes to the way the Android app store works. Generally, Play Store should be more open than ever: The store must offer access to other app stores developed by third parties and also allow these stores to access the entire catalog of the Play Store.

Play Store may change forever but Google will appeal decision

The judge’s ruling aims to resolve what Google found to be anti-competitive practices in the Play Store and in the distribution of apps. These apps not offering free and easy access to any third-party app stores It blocks alternative payment methods directly on the Play Store and also on the Google app store for Android. For example, Epic Games has its own app store.

The most significant changes the judge ordered in his decision are:

• Google will not force developers to use its own payment and billing systems in applications distributed through the Play Store
• Google won’t be able to do this Prohibiting the use of alternative payment methods Inside the Play Store
• Google should allow developers to add links to their apps that allow downloads from outside the Play Store
• Google You’re not allowed to give developers an advantage in launching their apps only on the Play Storeor to make them available on the Play Store first
• Google is not allowed to offer benefits to developers for offering limited or less-featured versions of their apps outside of the Play Store (even though the app they distribute on the Play Store is the full version).
• Google is not allowed to offer the following benefits to device manufacturers: Play Store by default on your products

These are some of the very significant changes that could impact or at least radically change Google’s business model on the Play Store.

company You have eight months to implement all these changesIt needs to remain active for the next three years. This may seem like a very short period of time to make such drastic changes to the way Google’s app store operates, but the consequences of these measures could be permanent, or at least very long-lasting, for Google’s business model for software distribution. For Android devices and the ecosystem of this operating system in general.

So it shouldn’t surprise us Google will appeal the judge’s decision. The company had previously announced that it would initiate the objection process to prevent the implementation of these changes. According to Google, these measures “could put consumers’ privacy and security at risk,” as well as negative consequences for competition between devices and manufacturers. We’ll see in the coming months whether Google will be able to stop the judge’s decision.

Cover photo | Xataka

via | Verge – Xataka

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