Judge pauses order for Google to allow third-party app stores on Android

Judge James Donato has temporarily halted his previous order requiring Google to allow third-party app stores on its Android operating system by November 1, 2024. This pause is part of an ongoing legal conflict that began in December 2023, after a jury determined that Google monopolized app distribution on Android devices through its Play Store, engaging in anti-competitive behavior.

Epic Games argued that Google's requirement for developers to use its billing system imposed unfair fees. Google, however, claimed that the November deadline was too tight to implement changes and raised concerns about potential security risks to the Android ecosystem.

The temporary stay might be extended if the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sides with Google, possibly delaying changes to Android app store policies. This development affects companies like Microsoft, as Xbox gamers were expected to purchase games directly from the Android Xbox app by November, a prospect now uncertain. Judge Donato indicated that the Ninth Circuit Court might grant Google a longer delay, postponing the anticipated policy changes.