Epic Games and Google propose settlement to put an end to the Android legal fight
Epic Games and Google have officially made a public announcement regarding a proposed settlement that aims to end their long standing dispute; the legal feud began back in August 2020. This development comes after an overall court victory against Google in December 2023 by Epic, most of whose rulings were maintainted against several appeals, including a very recent unfruitful one taken up by Google with the supreme court.
The Key Terms of Proposed Android Alterations
The agreement is predicated on quite substantial changes to both the Android operating system overall and Google Play policies. These changes are primarily a move towards greater developer choice and competition within the platform internationally. The key points of the agreement include:
- Reduced Fees Charged: Google would reduce fees for its in-app purchases to 20% for game-enhancing items and to 9% for those that are not.
- Alternative Payment Options: Developers will be allowed to bring forward payment methods alternative to Google Play Billing.
- Simplified Third-Party Store Installation: Already established for a future version of the next major Android release to last until June 30, 2032, Google will begin streamlining the installation process from sites for third-party app stores. The installation process will consist of a single install screen with neutral language to complete the procedure.
- Worldwide Application: A significant point is that the above changes will happen on a global level, instead of just in the USA.
A Step Towards More Open Platforms
Both companies were pleased to label the settlement as a giant step forward. Sameer Samat, president of Google's Android ecosystem, commented, saying,
"This will increase developers'' choice and flexibility, lower fees and facilitate greater competition."
According to the Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, the proposal is "an awesome proposal," that significantly "doubles down on the original vision of Android as an open platform". He contrasted the comprehensive solution to Apple's model which he said blocks competing stores while restricting competition mainly to payment.
Next Steps
The settlement is still not finalized. Both companies are now due to present the agreed changes to Judge Donato for his consideration. If the court endorses the settlement, it would close the case officially between the two tech giants.
