Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games

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Key Points

The lawsuit next moves to a remedies phase, meaning a judge as soon as the coming weeks will hear arguments about and decide whether to order changes to Googles business practices..

Users of devices powered by Google's Android operating system could find more app options to choose from, at lower prices, if Google is forced to allow downloads of rival app stores from Play or share a greater portion of sales with developers selling digital items inside their apps..

Epic had accused Google of restricting smartphone makers, wireless carriers, and app developers from providing any competition to the Play store, which accounts for over 95 percent of all downloads onto Android phones in the US...

Apple still has not had to comply as it awaits the Supreme Courts decision early next year about whether to review the case.. Google hasnt said much about why it chose to have a jury rather than a judge decide its fate in the trial that concluded today, though it tried unsuccessfully to reverse course on the eve of jury selection...

In closing arguments today, Gary Bornstein, an attorney for Epic, told jurors that Googles Android operating system was the only choice for smartphone makers, because Apple keeps iOS to itself and there arent any viable alternatives..

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