Fortnite maker and Google settle five-year legal fight over Android app store

Core Points - Epic Games has reached a comprehensive settlement with Google, potentially concluding a five-year legal battle regarding the Play Store for Android apps [1][2] - The settlement aims to enhance the competitiveness of the Android platform for both users and developers [2] - The specific terms of the settlement are sealed and require approval from US District Judge James Donato [4] Group 1: Legal Context - Epic Games previously won a significant legal victory when a federal appeals court upheld a jury verdict that deemed Google's Android app store an illegal monopoly [3] - The ruling from October 2024 mandated Google to dismantle barriers that prevent competition in its app store, including allowing rival third-party app stores [5] - Google faced challenges in appealing this ruling, which is part of ongoing antitrust trials affecting various aspects of its business [6] Group 2: Financial Implications - Epic Games initiated lawsuits against both Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store in 2020 to challenge high commission rates on in-app transactions, which ranged from 15% to 30% [7] - The proposed settlement would reduce Google's commission rates to between 9% and 20%, depending on the transaction [7]