Today, the court overseeing Epic Games and its ongoing U.S. legal proceedings ordered changes to Android and Google Play at Epic’s request. As already mentioned, these changes will put consumer privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on the device. Ultimately, these changes will likely satisfy Epic, but they will have a variety of unintended consequences that will harm U.S. consumers, developers, and device manufacturers.
These changes requested by Epic stem from a completely opposite ruling from another court that rejected a similar claim made by Epic against Apple. Unlike iOS, Android is an open platform and has always allowed for choice and flexibility, such as multiple app stores and sideloading. .
We are appealing that underlying decision and plan to ask the court to suspend Epic’s requested changes pending that appeal. Our appeal indicates:
- Apple and Google compete directly for consumers. This decision is based on the flawed finding that Android is a market unto itself. In contrast, the Apple decision, which was upheld on appeal, correctly found that Android and iOS compete in the same market. This is something anyone who has bought a smartphone knows. Walk into a store that sells smartphones and you’ll find Android phones from Samsung, Motorola, and many other companies competing alongside Apple’s iPhone. People choose these phones based on price, quality, and security.
- Google and Apple compete directly for app developers. This decision ignores what every developer in the world knows: we need to prioritize our investments in developing for iPhone and Android. Developers have finite resources and must decide how much time and money to spend building and updating apps for each platform. Like other companies, Google wants developers to deliver the best features for Android and release on Android first. That’s why we’re building tools, running training programs, and investing in making developing for Android as easy as possible. Of course, Apple is doing the same thing, racing to convince developers to prioritize iOS.
- Android is open, and Google Play isn’t the only way to get apps. This decision doesn’t take into account that Android is an open platform and developers have always had many choices in how to distribute their apps. In fact, most Android devices come with two or more app stores preloaded out of the box. Developers also have other options, such as offering apps to users directly from their website. For example, Epic Games made its popular Fortnite app available to Android users through the Samsung Galaxy Store, sideloading, and the Epic Games Store, but during that time, Fortnite was not distributed through Google Play. These are options that developers have not previously been able to offer to American users with iPhones.
Android has helped expand choice, lower prices, and democratize access to smartphones and apps. The original decision and the changes Epic requested today would jeopardize that and hurt Android’s ability to compete with Apple’s iOS.
We look forward to continuing our appeals and continuing to advocate for what’s best for developers, device manufacturers, and the billions of Android users around the world.
