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Epic's win over Google "spells trouble for app stores" (www.gamesindustry.biz)
submitted 8 months ago by nanoUFO@sh.itjust.works to c/games@sh.itjust.works
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[-] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 47 points 8 months ago

The more I read about this lawsuit the less sense it makes. Apple has an actual monopoly, you can't side-load things, nor have different app stores installed, but that's okay, yet Google where the only downside is that you get a popup saying "apps outside the store might contain malware and are not verified by Google" is on the wrong? Does that mean that Google should close themselves more to be legally right? If it is because iOS also makes the hardware does that mean that this is okay on Pixel phones and that on every other phone the manufacturer will need to remove the warning? This result is honestly very confusing and infuriating, the only platform outside of PC that was in any meaningful way open was the only one that lost, yet iOS, PlayStation and Xbox can continue being monopolies when none of them even allows to install third-party apps.

[-] Lmaydev@programming.dev 15 points 8 months ago

I thought it was about them forcing apps to use their payment system.

Since many apps require Google services to function on android they are using that fact to get a cut of all payments.

[-] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago

They're only forcing apps in the play store to use that payment system, and you're not forced to use any of the Google services (some people root their phones and de-google them, which wouldn't be possible if other apps required google services).

If Steam forced any game on steam to use the steam checkout system it would be somewhat similar. You're not forced to release your game on Steam or the play store, but you do so because it gives you a larger player base, and if you use their services and their servers it makes sense to pay them a fee.

[-] Lmaydev@programming.dev 3 points 8 months ago

A huge amount of apps that an average user needs are on the playstore and require the services.

Google leverage that to force apps to use their pay services.

Google is using an unrelated thing to force the use of their pay services. Hence monopoly.

It doesn't matter if a tiny percentage don't do that. The vast majority need to.

[-] Nibodhika@lemmy.world -4 points 8 months ago

A huge amount of apps that an average user needs are on the playstore and require the services.

Ad populus fallacy. Not all apps on the playstore use google services.

Google leverage that to force apps to use their pay services.

Google forces apps they distribute in their store to use their payment service to prevent their services from being used for free while a company makes tons of money using their platform. This is especially important on mobile where free games with micro-transactions are the norm.

Google is using an unrelated thing to force the use of their pay services. Hence monopoly.

Google is forcing the use of their services if you want to use their services, doesn't seem that absurd.

It doesn't matter if a tiny percentage don't do that. The vast majority need to.

It absolutely does matter, Google doesn't control anything outside of the play store, and they allow you to install things from outside the play store, so it's not a monopoly if people choose to use their store but could distribute their apps without it. That is like claiming Steam has a monopoly over PC and forcing them to allow people to sell games without paying steam for their infrastructure.

[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 months ago

Different judge?

Experience from the other lawsuit too I guess...

[-] squirrel@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 8 months ago

That's one part of the reason: Google seriously angered the judge by deleting possible evidence (Google got in similar trouble in the anti-trust trial in regards to their search engine). Additionally there were emails that showed that Google was very worried about Epic and that they bribed phone manufacturers to not install pre-install a Fortnite launcher (or other app stores) on their phones.

So there was a clear paper trail that showed how Google execs used their control over Android and the Google app store in order to undermine Epic's efforts to circumvent having to pay Google for being included in the app store. That's the main difference in regards to the trial against Apple where the evidence was not that clear-cut.

[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 9 points 8 months ago

Meanwhile Apple does the same thing but they don't need to have communications about it because it's just how their ecosystem works ๐Ÿ˜‚

[-] hoshikarakitaridia@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago

good thing is, apple and Google will get so much antitrust shit for their app stores in the near future from the EU, they will be forced to make side loading a thing at some point. So the only thing for the US to do is to get their laws together to make it legally binding for them as well.

[-] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 12 points 8 months ago

That's good, but Android already allows side-loading, which is part of my rant, it's absurd that the only platform that allows side-loading being the one that lost the lawsuit.

[-] hoshikarakitaridia@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah that's quite awkward. Kinda sets a bad precedent.

this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2023
71 points (93.8% liked)

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