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Google and Epic Seek Court Approval for Deal to Open Android and Cut Play Fees

Pending court approval, the proposal would carry Android openness reforms worldwide through 2032.

Overview

  • Both companies filed a joint proposal asking Judge James Donato to modify his earlier injunction, which would resolve their antitrust case if approved at a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
  • The plan creates "Registered App Stores" with a single-screen, neutral-language install flow from the web starting with the next major Android release, with terms running through June 30, 2032.
  • Developers could offer alternative payments inside apps and via external links, with Google’s service fee on such transactions capped at either 9% or 20% depending on the purchase type.
  • The modified injunction preserves limits on deals that secure Play Store exclusivity or preinstallation and maintains developers’ ability to communicate pricing outside Google Play.
  • Google says the changes expand choice while maintaining user safety, and Epic’s Tim Sweeney praised the proposal as advancing Android’s vision as an open platform.