In a significant legal battle, Epic Games, the creator of the popular game Fortnite, emerged victorious in a major antitrust trial against tech giant Google. A federal jury in San Francisco delivered a swift verdict, stating that Google’s stringent controls over its Play store constituted an illegal monopoly, violating U.S. competition laws. The ruling exposed Google’s overreach in both app distribution to Android users and in-app payment processing.
The court’s decision was influenced by Google’s mishandling of internal online “chat” logs, which the jury deemed unfavorable to the tech giant. While Epic Games did not seek monetary damages, the verdict sets the stage for potential reforms in how Google operates its Play store.
U.S. District Judge James Donato is set to hear arguments in January regarding Epic’s request for a court order to reshape Google’s Play store operations. Google, in response, may contest the proposed changes as excessively broad. The tech giant has already declared its intention to appeal the jury’s verdict, potentially sparking years of prolonged legal battles.
This legal saga bears similarities to Epic’s earlier antitrust case against Apple over its App Store rules. Both appeals are expected to land in the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, legal scholars highlight distinctions between the cases, notably that the case against Apple was decided solely by a judge, whereas Epic’s victory against Google involved a jury.
While the outcome of the Epic Games case doesn’t directly impact Google’s other ongoing antitrust battles, it could inspire additional plaintiffs, such as businesses and app developers, to join forces in class-action lawsuits. Google faces a plethora of private civil antitrust suits in the U.S., along with government claims challenging its search and advertising practices.
Internationally, Google is actively contesting a $2.6 billion antitrust fine imposed by the European Union related to alleged market abuses in its shopping service. Meanwhile, the tech giant is gearing up for a jury trial in Virginia next year, facing charges from the U.S. Justice Department and several states over its dominance in digital advertising—a claim vehemently denied by Google.
As legal complexities unfold, Epic Games’ legal triumph marks a pivotal moment, shaking the foundations of Google’s global antitrust battles.
