After nearly five years of the proper legal conflict, Fortnite developer Epic Games and even the famous company Google have finally reached a settlement in their high-profile antitrust case, which has been concerning over the Android app store.
The dispute, which began in 2020, was primarily centred on Epic’s allegations that Google maintained an illegal monopoly over the whole app distribution and even the payment systems through its Google Play Store policies.
Epic Games has also accused Google of bnfairly restricting the competition by forcing various developers to use its billing system and also to pay high commission fees on in-app purchases.
The lawsuit also followed a similar legal battle that took place between Epic and Apple, which also challenged app store payment practices.
Epic has also argued that Google’s actions have harmed both the community, the developers and consumers by inflating prices and by even limiting alternative payment methods.
Google has, however, denied all allegations, thus claiming that its Android ecosystem offers flexibility and even multiple options for the proper app distribution.
The company has also pointed out that users can sideload various apps or access third-party app stores, unlike the Apple’s closed system.
Despite all this defence, the lawsuit still continued for years, thus drawing attention from various regulators and even the global tech community.
Details of the settlement have not yet been disclosed, but both companies have now confirmed the agreement, signalling an end to one of the longest-running battles that took place in the tech industry.
Analysts also believe the outcome may also influence future policies regarding the app store commissions and even the developer rights.
