The saga continues. Google has submitted its appeal regarding the judge’s recent decision on third-party app stores. This regards third-party app stores on Google Play, in case you’re out of the loop.
Google has submitted an appeal regarding third-party app stores ruling
A couple of days ago, Judge Donato has decided that Google has to allow third-party app stores on Google Play Store. This is the result of a lawsuit originally filed by Epic Games back in 2020. Google basically has to allow developers to list their own app stores in the Google Play Store.
As many of you know, third-party app stores are available on Android. The thing is, they’re not allowed to be available via the Google Play Store. You can sideload them, though, app stores such as Aurora Store or F-Droid, for example. Some Android OEMs have their own app stores, that come pre-installed on their devices, such as the Galaxy Store.
Well, following this ruling, Google will be forced to allow third-party app stores to be listed on Google Play. Well, if this appeal does not bear good results for Google, of course.
Google announced that it will appeal the decision soon after Judge Donato made it. Now the appeal is official. No additional statement was issued, but Google did have something to say a couple of days ago, when the appeal was announced.
Google believes this is a privacy and security risk
Google’s VP of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland said: “As we have already stated, these changes would put consumers’ privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices”.
She also added the following: “Ultimately, while these changes presumably satisfy Epic, they will cause a range of unintended consequences that will harm American consumers, developers and device makers”.
Judge Donato’s ruling said that these changes much go into effect starting on November 1, 2024, and would stay in effect until November 1, 2027. It remains to be seen if Google’s appeal will make a difference.
