Overview
- Aptoide filed Tuesday in San Francisco federal court accusing Google of monopolizing Android app distribution and in-app billing.
- The Lisbon-based store says Google steers developers to Google Play, ties access to must-have services, and withholds top apps, which it argues blunts its lower-fee model.
- The suit asks for an injunction to halt the practices and seeks triple damages, a remedy in U.S. antitrust law designed to punish and deter monopoly conduct.
- Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Alphabet shares rose about 3.6% Tuesday, according to Benzinga.
- The case adds to pressure from earlier actions that include a 2023 Epic Games verdict that drove Android policy changes in 2025 and a 2024 ruling that found Google’s search engine an illegal monopoly.