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Google must open Play Store for alternative app stores - in the USA

Jan Johannsen
8/10/2024
Translation: machine translated

Google has bought a monopoly with money and must therefore open the Play Store. This is the judgement in a court case in the USA.

Installing app stores from the Play Store

In contrast to iOS, it has long been possible to use alternative app stores on Android. Until now, however, you have had to install them manually by sideloading. According to the judgement, this should change and Google must display them in the Play Store. Users should then be able to install them from there.

In addition, the app stores of Epic, Samsung and whoever else should be given access to the full Play Store catalogue. This should prevent Google from protecting its monopoly through exclusive contracts and the like.

No longer just one payment method

Google is also prohibited from authorising "Google Play Billing" as the only payment method. App developers may refer to other payment options and downloads outside the Play Store and set their own prices. Until now, they have been bound to the price levels specified by Google.

In addition, Google is not allowed to offer money or other benefits to app developers who publish their apps exclusively or first in the Play Store. The same applies if apps are not offered in competing app stores. Google is also prohibited from using money or other advantages to persuade device manufacturers or mobile phone providers to install the Play Store on devices and not to install alternative app stores.

Epic Games is satisfied, Google sees unintended dangers

However, this ignores the fact that the judgement states, among other things, that even Amazon has not managed to establish a successful app store beyond the Play Store. Epic Games' lawsuit was also primarily about Google's monopoly within Android and not about all smartphones.

In contrast, Epic Games failed in a lawsuit against Apple in 2021. At the time, the iPhone manufacturer was ruled not to have a monopoly by a very narrow margin.

Header image: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com

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Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.de

As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus. 

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