Despite initial skepticism, Judge James Donato is considering Epic Games’ demands in the trial against Google Play Store. One of the biggest demands was for Google to allow the Epic Games Store to exist within the Google Play Store and have access to all the apps available on the platform. This development came as a surprise to many, as it was not expected that the judge would take these demands seriously.
Judge Donato has ordered Google to calculate the costs of complying with Epic Games’ demands by June 24th. This includes detailing the tech work required and any economic costs associated with providing “Catalog Access” and “Library Porting” to competing app stores for up to six years. The order also mentions the possibility of allowing the distribution of third-party app stores through the Google Play Store.
Another significant demand that Judge Donato seems to be considering is the inclusion of other third-party app stores within the Google Play Store for a period of six years. Epic will have the opportunity to question Google’s experts and engineers about the accuracy of their estimates before a final hearing on August 14th.
During an evidentiary hearing, Judge Donato expressed skepticism towards Google’s arguments against Epic’s proposed remedies. However, he also pointed out that some of Epic’s demands were “open-ended and too vague.” This indicates that while the judge is considering Epic’s demands, he is also critical of the specific details and clarity of those demands.
Following its unexpected win at trial, Epic has been working on a version of its game store for Android. This victory could potentially have far-reaching implications for the app store ecosystem and how major players like Google interact with competing platforms. The outcome of this trial could shape the future of app distribution on Android devices.
The surprising development in the Epic Games vs. Google Play Store trial has brought attention to the power dynamics within the app store market. Judge James Donato’s consideration of Epic’s demands signals a potential shift in how major app platforms operate and how they interact with competition. The final hearing on August 14th will provide more clarity on the outcome of this trial and its implications for the future of app distribution.
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