Fortnite Maker Epic Games Wins Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google

By Jace Dela Cruz

Dec 12, 2023 04:58 AM EST

Epic Games has accused Google of unlawfully making its Play Store dominant over rivals, and a US jury recently agreed with the creator of the Fortnite game.

In a landmark verdict, the jury has found that Google, the tech giant behind the Android operating system, had operated an illegal monopoly by making its Play Store dominant over rival app stores.

According to BBC, the lawsuit, initiated by Epic Games, the creator of the popular video game Fortnite, accused Google of maintaining a monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing.

(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
This illustration picture shows the logo from Epic Games displayed on a laptop and a reflected Apple Logo on an iPhone in Arlington, Virginia on April 30, 2021.

Response of Google to Epic Games' Victory

According to a court filing, the California jury found in favor of Epic Games on all counts unanimously. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, argued that Google's control over the Play Store, utilized by hundreds of millions globally for installing apps on Android-powered smartphones, had stifled competition and innovation.

Epic Games celebrated the decision, claiming victory over the alleged Google Play monopoly. Google, however, signaled its intention to challenge the jury's decision.

Wilson White, Google's vice president of government affairs and public policy, asserted that Android and Google Play offer more choice and openness than other major mobile platforms. He emphasized their commitment to defending the Android business model, competing vigorously with Apple and other app stores.

Epic Games Expresses Satisfaction

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying that the process of determining remedies would commence in January. Sweeney hailed the California jury's decision against the Google Play monopoly, marking the culmination of four weeks of detailed court proceedings.

The trial also delved into the issue of transaction costs, with Epic challenging Google's imposition of fees up to 30% on Android app developers. Epic's lawsuit accused Google of stifling innovation and choice through secretive and anti-competitive agreements.

Google, in turn, counter-sued Epic for damages, citing violations of the developer agreement. Epic Games filed a similar anti-trust case against Apple in 2020, but a US judge essentially ruled in favor of Apple in 2021.

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