Google Asks US Supreme Court To Freeze App Store Injunction In Epic Games Case - Slashdot

Google Seeks Supreme Court Intervention in Epic Games Case In a bid to halt significant changes to its Play Store, Google has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to freeze an injunction issued by a federal judge in an antitrust case brought by Epic Games. The injunction would require major modifications to the app store, including allowing rival stores and external billing links. According to a filing submitted late Wednesday, Google argued that the changes would have far-reaching consequences for over 100 million U.S. Android users and 500,000 developers. The company claimed that the judge's order was "unprecedented" and would cause reputational harm, safety and security risks, and put Google at a competitive disadvantage. "We urge the Supreme Court to halt key parts of the district court's order," said a Google spokesperson in an email statement. "The changes ordered by the court would be devastating for users and developers alike." Epic Games, maker of popular game "Fortnite," had sued Google alleging that its dominance in the app market stifled competition and innovation. The company argued that the changes were necessary to break Google's monopoly. "The district court's order is a major victory for consumers and developers who have been harmed by Google's anticompetitive behavior," said Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, in a statement. "We are confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the district court's decision." Background on the case dates back to 2020 when Epic Games filed its lawsuit against Google. The company claimed that Google's policies and practices restricted competition and innovation in the app market. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of Epic Games, ordering significant changes to the Play Store. Google has since appealed the decision and is now seeking intervention from the Supreme Court. In its filing, Google asked the Supreme Court to decide by October 17 whether to put the order on hold. The court's decision will have far-reaching implications for the tech industry and consumers alike. The case highlights the ongoing debate over antitrust laws and their impact on the tech industry. As the world becomes increasingly dependent on digital services, regulatory bodies are grappling with how to balance innovation with competition and consumer protection. Google's move to seek Supreme Court intervention underscores the company's commitment to protecting its business interests. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of app stores and the broader tech industry. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to review Google's appeal in the coming weeks. A decision on whether to freeze the injunction could come as early as October 17, pending a final ruling from the court. *Reporting by Yro.*