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Google case: The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay a one -year -old order, under which Google had to make major changes in its Android app store. This order was made aimed at increasing competition against Google’s Play Store and preventing it from illegal monopoly. With this, the company will soon have to implement improvement in the Play Store, which is the platform of Android apps for most non-Apple smartphones in the US.

Major changes order by court

In October 2023, American District Judge James Donato ordered Google to make several changes, including.

1. Competitive app developers access to their Android apps.

2. Alternative App Store option providing it directly for download from Play Store.

Google argued in a petition filed in the Supreme Court that Donato’s order would face more than 100 million US users of Play Store, as it could lead to malicious or pirated materials. The company was given a deadline till 22 October to follow the order.

Google’s response

Google issued a statement saying that it would follow the order, but will continue the legal battle. The company says that the order can endanger users’ safe app downloading capacity.

Google’s petition in the Supreme Court also argued that it is unfair to force the company to become suppliers for potential rivals. Google tried to reverse this order and monopoly decision, but the ninth circuit appeal court rejected it.

Digital walls and profits

Judge Donato concluded that the digital walls built by Google gave the company a chance to earn an annual profit of billions of dollars. In particular, Google took advantage of its monopoly through a system of charging 15-30 percent on in-app transactions.

Epic games sued

This case against Google is part of the 2020 antitrust case filed by Epic Games. Epic had earlier fought a similar case against Apple’s iPhone App Store, in which the jury did not declare Apple as illegal monopoly, but alternative payment system was allowed. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeny appreciated the Supreme Court’s decision and said that this will provide consumers without any fee and obstacle.

Other legal fronts of Google

Changes of Play Store may affect Google’s benefits, but the maximum profit of the company comes from digital advertising network and search engines. In other monopoly cases brought by the US Department of Justice, Google’s search and parts of advertising technology have been declared illegal.

Earlier this year, the federal judge gave relief by rejecting Google’s possible divisional proposal in the search engine case. However, the proceedings of the advertising technology case are going to be completed on 17 November with a closing debate in Alexandria, Virginia.