A federal judge in the US has postponed an order that would have required Google to open up its Android app store to more competition. The delay was granted during a court hearing in San Francisco, pending a decision by the appeals court on whether to block the shake-up due to legal uncertainties surrounding a previous jury’s verdict that labelled Google as an illegal monopolist.
The original order issued by U.S. District Judge James Donato mandated significant changes to Google’s Play Store for Android smartphones, set to take effect on November 1. This included a provision that would have compelled Google to make its vast library of over 2 million Android apps accessible to any competitors and distribute alternative options within its Play Store.
Google had requested a stay on Donato’s order until the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals could review the trial that occurred in December 2023. This trial found the Play Store to be an illegal monopoly that stifles innovation and inflates consumer prices. Despite skepticism from Judge Donato about Google’s chances of overturning the verdict, he decided to give the Ninth Circuit the opportunity to consider a postponement until Google’s appeal was fully assessed.
The Ninth Circuit’s decision on Google’s request for a permanent stay could potentially take over a year. In the past, the Ninth Circuit had delayed implementing certain provisions, such as allowing links to alternative payment systems within iPhone apps, in a similar antitrust case involving Apple brought by Epic Games.
Google argued that the mandated changes to its app store were a daunting task and posed risks to the Android ecosystem’s safety and security. Nevertheless, Judge Donato dismissed Google’s concerns about costs, stating that the expenses Google might incur were minimal compared to the profits it gains annually from the Play Store.
In response to the postponement, Google expressed its satisfaction with the decision to pause the enforcement of the order, stressing the potential impact on the millions of Android users, developers, and partners who benefit from its platforms. Epic Games, the company behind the antitrust claims, declined to comment on the matter.
The next steps in this case will await the Ninth Circuit’s ruling on whether to prolong the delay on enforcing the order requiring Google to open up its app store, a move that could significantly impact the tech giant’s lucrative commission system within the Play Store.