Overview

• A unanimous Ninth Circuit panel rejected Google's appeal of a 2023 jury verdict and Judge James Donato’s October 2024 injunction requiring Play Store reforms
• The court’s injunction compels Google to let users download third-party app stores from Play Store and grant those stores full access to Play’s app catalog along with alternative in-app payment methods
• Google’s vice president Lee-Anne Mulholland warned the decision could undermine user safety and innovation as the company prepares an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court
• Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that the Epic Games Store will launch directly within Google Play, removing the need for sideloading
• Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission filed briefs supporting Epic’s antitrust claims to bolster competition on Android