Key Points:
- Judge Donato is seriously considering Epic’s demands for Google to allow the Epic Games Store within the Google Play Store.
- Google must provide detailed tech and economic cost estimates for these demands by June 24, 2024.
- Epic will have the opportunity to challenge Google’s estimates before a final hearing on August 14, 2024.
In a surprising turn, Judge James Donato is giving serious consideration to Epic Games’ significant demands in their legal battle against Google. Epic is pushing for the inclusion of its store within the Google Play Store and access to Google’s entire app catalog. Despite initial skepticism, the judge has ordered Google to calculate the technical work and economic costs associated with these demands by June 24, 2024.
This directive requires Google to detail the feasibility and expense of offering “Catalog Access” and “Library Porting” for competing app stores over six years. Additionally, Google must address the costs and technical requirements for distributing third-party app stores via Google Play.
Epic’s demands are outlined in a detailed 16-page document, with a specific focus on page seven, which envisions giving third-party stores the same access as Google’s offerings. Judge Donato’s consideration extends to allowing third-party app stores to operate within Google Play for a substantial duration, reflecting a potential paradigm shift in-app distribution.
The upcoming steps include Epic questioning Google’s experts on their cost estimates and filing rebuttals. A final evidentiary hearing is scheduled for August 14, 2024. Judge Donato has shown skepticism towards Google’s objections but has also indicated that some of Epic’s proposals need further clarification.
This case continues to evolve, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle between Epic Games and Google over app store dominance.
