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Google has posted an official response to the proposed Play Retailer change that Epic requested in courtroom, stating that these cures are “dangerous for everybody however Epic,” suggesting that solely Epic will profit. If you happen to’re undecided what Google is speaking about, it’s referencing Epic’s proposed cures to the Choose and the courtroom in its case in opposition to Google over the Play Retailer being a monopoly. The courtroom dominated in favor of Epic again in December 2023. As a part of this ruling, the Play Retailer was deemed an unlawful monopoly and Google would want to work at making some modifications.
These modifications, based on Epic, ought to embody permitting customers to obtain apps outdoors of the Play Retailer “with out scare screens” that may try to discourage customers from doing so. Epic additionally desires the Play Retailer charges revamped. “Google should enable builders to supply the cost choice of their alternative with out imposing anticompetitive charges,” Epic stated. On the face of it, this is able to profit customers as they’d have extra alternative. Extra alternative in how they obtain their apps and the place they make in-app purchases.
Google doesn’t suppose that is truthful. Claiming that solely Epic wins on this state of affairs. Epic actually wins to a level. It will get entry to the Play Retailer for its personal Epic Video games Retailer app, plus it avoids retaliatory charges. That doesn’t actually sound dangerous for Android customers. In truth, it in all probability doesn’t impression the consumer a lot past the power to decide on the place you get apps from and the way you pay for micro-transactions. However that’s not what Google thinks.
In its response, Google says the Play Retailer modifications Epic proposed undermine privateness
Google is sticking to the identical story it had when it responded to Epic’s cures within the courtroom submitting. Noting that these cures would damage the safety and privateness that shield customers’ private knowledge. Google says Epic’s cures will undermine these components. Google additionally calls them “problematic and pointless.” For Google’s half, its reasoning for pushing again in opposition to these cures does make sense. It claims Epic’s proposed change removes Google’s capability to implement security measures for customers.
Principally, Google is saying that Epic’s cures will take away the safeguards it has put in place. Whereas additionally hurting builders by eradicating key enterprise alternatives and “hurting machine producers.” Almost about the chance issue, that’s one thing to contemplate. Sideloading apps from outdoors of Google Play does run the chance of opening you as much as malware. One thing that Play Retailer downloads are much less liable to, though not immune.
Nonetheless, the actual fact stays that the Play Retailer was dominated a monopoly. And Epic’s proposed modifications are a direct results of that ruling.
Google will proceed to battle in opposition to these modifications
It’s unclear whether or not Epic’s proposed modifications will find yourself being obligatory. What is obvious is that Google isn’t going to take this mendacity down. The corporate says it’s going to “vigorously defend our proper to a sustainable enterprise mannequin that permits us to maintain individuals protected.” Google’s official response was printed on Could 22, and the corporate says a listening to later this week may have financial consultants reinforcing the explanation why Epic’s proposed modifications are “problematic and pointless.”