● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact1 negative1 neutral
Judge Orders Google to Simplify Third-Party App Store Installation on Android
Key points
- Judge Donato ordered Google to ease third-party app store installation.
- Google must address "anticompetitive friction" in the process.
- Changes required for search results and installation flow.
- The order follows Epic Games' arguments in court.
- Google has one week to implement the changes.
Court Mandates Easier App Store Installation
A US District Court judge has ordered Google to simplify the process for installing rival app stores on Android devices. The ruling, issued by Judge James Donato, requires Google to eliminate what he termed "anticompetitive friction" that currently makes it difficult for users to install third-party app stores.
Addressing Search and Installation Barriers
The judge specifically took issue with how Google presents third-party app stores in search results within the Google Play Store and the existing installation procedure. Epic Games demonstrated in court that searching for terms like "store for apps" yielded no relevant results for app stores, only physical stores. Furthermore, even when found, third-party app stores were not displayed prominently in search results but were instead placed under a banner.
Background of the Ruling
This order follows a jury decision nearly three years ago that found Google held an illegal monopoly over Android apps. Judge Donato had previously ordered Google to allow rival Android app stores within its own Google Play Store and provide them access to Google's full app catalog. However, Epic Games argued that Google had not adequately complied, continuing to make it difficult to install these alternative stores.
Google Given One Week to Comply
Google has been given one week to implement the necessary changes. Judge Donato emphasized that the current presentation and installation process for third-party app stores are "not acceptable" and must be fixed, requiring Google to ensure that various search queries, even partially phrased ones, yield appropriate results.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
A US District Court judge has ordered Google to remove "anticompetitive friction" from the process of installing third-party app stores via the Play Store, giving the company one week to implement changes. This ruling follows Google's initial attempt to support third-party app stores, which the judge found to be insufficient in addressing monopoly concerns from a prior antitrust case.
A judge ordered Google to remove "anticompetitive friction" that makes it difficult to install rival app stores on Android, following arguments from Epic Games. This ruling mandates changes to search results within the Google Play Store and the installation process for third-party app stores, aiming to increase competition in Android app distribution.