Epic Games Wins Lawsuit Against Google’s “Illegal Monopoly”

If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. In the case of Epic v. Google, the jury on Monday announced its decision, determining that Google transformed its Google Play app store and Google Play Billing service into an unlawful monopoly. The jury reached a unanimous consensus on all queries presented to them, affirming that Google possesses monopolistic control in both the Android app distribution and in-app billing service sectors. Jurors concurred that Google engaged in practices that stifled competition within these markets, resulting in harm to Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game. Furthermore, the jury concluded that Google unlawfully linked its Google Play app store with its Google Play Billing payment services. They also found that Google’s distribution agreements, its Project Hug initiatives with game developers, and its contracts with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), were similarly detrimental to competition. Over four weeks, the trial of Google versus Epic Games unfolded, featuring testimony from key executives: Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai and Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney. Epic’s primary allegation was Google’s misuse of its dominant position in the Android ecosystem. The claim focused on Google leveraging its financial power to safeguard its Play Store’s payment system, where it imposes a commission ranging from 15% to 30% on transactions within apps. This model, similar to Apple’s approach with its iPhone app store, has been a significant profit generator for Google. In its defense, Google argued that these fees were necessary to…Epic Games Wins Lawsuit Against Google’s “Illegal Monopoly”