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Supreme Court Leaves Google Play Injunction Intact, Triggering Near-Term Changes

Google now faces an October 22 deadline to allow external links and alternative payments as it pursues a full appeal and warns the mandates pose security risks.

The new Google logo is seen in this illustration taken May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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FILE - A Google sign is displayed at the company's office in San Francisco, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Overview

  • By denying Google’s stay request, the Supreme Court kept in place Judge James Donato’s injunction arising from Epic Games’ antitrust win, with initial remedies taking effect this month.
  • Starting October 22, Google must stop requiring Google Play Billing, let developers steer users to out-of-app payments, permit links to external downloads, and end exclusivity payments to OEMs, carriers, and developers.
  • The more structural provisions—enabling rival app stores to be distributed through Google Play and sharing Play’s app catalog with competitors—remain scheduled for July 2026.
  • A Ninth Circuit panel upheld the injunction in July; Google says it will file a certiorari petition by October 27 and argues the changes could expose users to significant safety and security risks.
  • Epic CEO Tim Sweeney praised the ruling, saying developers will gain the legal right to direct U.S. Google Play users to alternative payment options without added friction, with a court check-in on compliance set for October 30.