A US federal judge has given Google a strict one-week deadline to remove what he termed “anticompetitive friction” from its Play Store. US District Judge James Donato ruled that the tech giant intentionally made it difficult for users to find and install alternative app stores such as Aptoide Games, following a landmark antitrust lawsuit brought by Epic Games.
The Courtroom Demonstration and Search Flaws
During a recent court hearing, attorneys for Epic Games demonstrated how searching for terms like “app store” or “store for apps” yielded no direct results for third-party platforms, instead showing physical retail stores like Walmart. Even when users managed to locate alternative stores, they were hidden behind confusing banners and menus. Furthermore, Google replaced the standard “Install” button with a “View” button, forcing users through unnecessary extra layers.
Judge Donato’s Demands and Google’s Response
Judge James Donato labeled these hurdles completely unacceptable, ordering Google to ensure that any variation of search queries for app stores immediately brings up a proper directory. Additionally, the court mandated the reinstatement of a direct “Install” button. In response to the ruling, Google agreed to implement the required modifications within the mandated timeframe, marking another significant milestone in the ongoing fallout from the 2023 antitrust ruling where Google was found to operate an illegal monopoly.
A Continuing Legal and Technical Battle
This latest legal clash builds upon years of litigation initiated by Epic Games in 2020. Although Google and Epic Games have reached certain global partnerships, deep disagreements regarding antitrust remedies persist. As Google scrambles to comply with Judge Donato‘s latest directives, the tech industry watches closely to see how open the Android ecosystem will truly become for alternative marketplaces.
