Overview

• The justices denied Google’s request for a partial stay of Judge James Donato’s injunction, a routine one-line order that leaves the remedies in effect.
• By Oct. 22, Google must allow external payment links, permit alternative in‑app billing, stop requiring Google Play Billing, let developers steer users to other payment options, and end exclusivity deals tied to Play preinstallation.
• Broader structural measures remain scheduled for July 2026, including enabling third‑party app stores to be distributed via Google Play and granting competitors access to Play’s app catalog for three years.
• Google says it will comply with legal obligations and will file a full certiorari petition by Oct. 27, arguing the changes pose security and safety risks for over 100 million U.S. Android users and roughly 500,000 developers.
• Epic Games, which won a 2023 jury verdict later upheld by the Ninth Circuit, welcomed the decision, with CEO Tim Sweeney noting developers can direct users to out‑of‑app payments without added fees or deterrent screens.