The settlement follows Epic’s 2020 lawsuit accusing Google of monopolising Android app distribution and payments.
Google plans to cap service fees at 9% or 20%, depending on the type of transaction.
The agreement would allow easier installation of third-party app stores and alternative payment options while maintaining user safety standards.
Google and Epic Games may have reached a wide ranging settlement in the United States for its ongoing antitrust case. According to a joint filing in the United States District Court in San Francisco, both companies have proposed a settlement that addresses Epic’s 2020 lawsuit accusing Google of unfairly monopolising app distribution and in-app payment systems on Android. The agreement, which is awaiting approval from Judge James Donato, aims to reduce developer fees, increase competition, and give users more control over app selection and payment methods.
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The conflict between Google and Epic Games started in August 2020 when Google took Fortnite off the Play Store after Epic developed its own in-app payment method to avoid paying up to 30 pct in commission. In response, Epic filed a lawsuit accusing Google of engaging in anticompetitive behaviour in order to keep control over Android app distribution and payments. A jury found in favour of Epic in 2023, finding that Google had acted in a monopolistic manner and directing the company to change its operations to allow for more competition.
Epic vs Google agreement terms
Google’s new terms will make it easier to install third-party app stores, as long as they meet current safety and security requirements. Additionally, developers will have the ability to point users to different payment options through both internal and external links. Depending on the nature of the transaction, Google intends to apply a capped service fee structure of either 9 pct or 20 pct.
According to Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem at Google, the proposed measures strike a balance between user safety and greater flexibility for app creators and consumers. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney described the resolution as “awesome,” stating that it “revives Android’s original vision as an open platform.”
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
