A federal judge in California has granted Google a temporary reprieve, delaying a mandate that would have forced the tech giant to overhaul its Play Store by November 1. The order, stemming from an antitrust lawsuit brought by Epic Games—the creator of Fortnite—aims to give consumers more freedom in how they download software on Android devices.
Judge James Donato’s decision to delay the injunction gives time for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review Google’s request to halt the changes further. However, Donato denied Google’s plea to keep the order on hold for the duration of the broader appeal, keeping the pressure on the company to address the underlying legal battle.
Google voiced satisfaction with the temporary pause, calling Epic’s remedies “dangerous” and expressing hope that the appeals court will grant more time to challenge the directive. Meanwhile, Epic dismissed the pause as merely procedural and criticized Google for resorting to “fearmongering” by raising concerns about security risks.
The lawsuit has already yielded significant findings against Google. A jury concluded that the company illegally monopolized app distribution and payment systems on Android, with Donato’s initial order embracing Epic’s recommendations. The judge required Google to permit alternative app stores and payment methods, barred financial incentives for preinstalled Play Store apps, and blocked revenue-sharing arrangements with other distributors.
Google is now appealing these findings to the 9th Circuit, insisting that it is not a monopoly since Apple’s App Store serves as direct competition. The company also argues that forcing it to engage with rival platforms through the injunction sets a dangerous precedent.
As the legal saga unfolds, the temporary pause offers Google a brief window, but the battle over how consumers interact with the Android ecosystem remains far from over.
