Google lost its antitrust case with Epic again

Google has lost its appeal against the decision in the Epic v. Google lawsuit, which found that the company's Play Store and payment systems are monopolies. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the original ruling, requiring Google to abide by certain remedies, including allowing third-party app stores to be downloaded from the Play Store and giving them "catalog access" to all the apps currently in the Play Store. The decision means that Google will have to make significant changes to its Android ecosystem, limiting its ability to require developers to use its payment systems and forcing it to open up the platform to more competition. Google has expressed concerns about the impact on user safety, choice, and innovation, and plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The lawsuit originated from Epic's decision to circumvent Google's payment system in Fortnite, leading to the game's removal from the Play Store and Epic's subsequent legal action. This decision is a significant victory for Epic and a blow to Google's control over the Android app market.