Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games

Google violated California and federal antitrust laws through deals that stifled competition for its Play mobile app store, a jury in San Francisco unanimously found today. The verdict delivers the first significant US courtroom loss for big tech in the years-long campaign by rivals, regulators, and prosecutors to tame the power of internet gatekeepers. The ruling came in a case first filed in 2020 by Epic Games and argued before a jury since early November. Epic had accused Google of restricting smartphone makers, wireless carriers, and app developers from providing any competition to the Play store, which accounts for over 95 percent of all downloads onto Android phones in the US.

Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games

Google violated California and federal antitrust laws through deals that stifled competition for its Play mobile app store, a jury in San Francisco unanimously found today. The verdict delivers the first significant US courtroom loss for big tech in the years-long campaign by rivals, regulators, and prosecutors to tame the power of internet gatekeepers. The ruling came in a case first filed in 2020 by Epic Games and argued before a jury since early November. Epic had accused Google of restricting smartphone makers, wireless carriers, and app developers from providing any competition to the Play store, which accounts for over 95 percent of all downloads onto Android phones in the US.

Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games
Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games
Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games