Google has formally requested a federal judge in California to suspend a significant court ruling that mandates the company to enhance competition within its app store, Google Play.
In a court submission made late Friday, Google argued that US District Judge James Donato’s injunction, set to take effect on November 1, poses potential risks to the company’s operations, raising concerns about safety, security, and privacy within the Android ecosystem.
The tech behemoth, part of Alphabet Inc., is seeking a stay on the order while it files an appeal.
This injunction, issued on October 7, stems from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game “Fortnite.” A federal jury had previously concluded that Google was engaging in anti-competitive practices by monopolizing the app download process for Android devices and controlling payment methods for in-app purchases.
The judge’s ruling stipulates that Google must permit users to access and download alternative third-party app platforms or stores, and it can no longer block the utilization of competing in-app payment systems. Furthermore, the order prohibits Google from paying device manufacturers to preinstall its app store and limits its ability to share revenue from the Play Store with other app distributors.
If Judge Donato declines Google’s request to temporarily halt the injunction, the company has the option to appeal to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco for a stay while contesting the jury’s antitrust decision.
Google has already submitted its appeal notice to the 9th Circuit as of Thursday. The appellate court is anticipated to evaluate and make a determination regarding Google’s challenge to the injunction issued by Donato.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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