Google loses app store antitrust appeal, must make sweeping changes to Play Store

[Trumpetman]

Google loses app store antitrust appeal, must make sweeping changes to Play Store

Google’s failed appeal could open up the market for Android apps.

arstechnica.com

There's what was ruled on and what was revealed in the actions related to the case. As always both are quite illuminating.

Google has lost its appeal in the long-running app store antitrust case, which marks another major victory for Epic Games. Google lost the original case in 2023 when a jury found it abused its market position in smartphones to block competition from Epic and others. Google was able to get the penalties suspended while it pursued its appeal, but now it may need to make plans for a more open future on Android.

This is the straight forward take on the matter. Google lost. They've got to make changes.

Epic was unable to secure a victory against Apple, which has an undeniably more restrictive app store than Google. However, the 2023 trial overseen by US District Judge James Donato revealed a pattern of scheming on Google's part to prevent the distribution of alternative app stores on Android phones. While Android devices do allow sideloading of apps, and the platform is open source, Google's scale and partnerships with OEMs made it a de facto monopoly. This led the court to impose extensive remedies that could remake the mobile app ecosystem............The ruling, authored by Judge Margaret McKeown, affirms the jury's verdict and dismisses Google's objections. "The record was replete with evidence that Google’s anticompetitive conduct entrenched its dominance, causing the Play Store to benefit from network effects," wrote McKeown. "These remedies and their scope are supported by the record and the nature of the market, and we uphold them along with the liability verdict and the entire injunction."

In short it notes that Epic had an easier time making their case against Google because pretending to be open while in fact operating a walled garden means more heavy handed and ridiculous remedies to make them a de factor monopoly. In short their heavy handed actions revealed their lies and as such the court will impose more extensive remedies than if they actually just been closed.

Now Google has to open up and that will be good for everyone. They will have to be legitimately open and not just put up e veneer of openness while being engaged in conduct that is nothing like that at all.

It's a good point to ponder.

If you act like you're fair and open but actually engage in duplicitous and terrible conduct, then your actions will tell the truth.

The truth always wins even when it hurts.