In the present day, the court docket overseeing our ongoing U.S. authorized proceedings with Epic Video games ordered modifications to Android and Google Play, requested by Epic. As we have now already acknowledged, these modifications would put customers’ privateness and safety in danger, make it tougher for builders to advertise their apps, and scale back competitors on units. Finally, whereas these modifications presumably fulfill Epic, they’ll trigger a variety of unintended penalties that may hurt American customers, builders and gadget makers.

These Epic-requested modifications stem from a choice that’s fully opposite to a different court docket’s rejection of comparable claims Epic made in opposition to Apple — despite the fact that, not like iOS, Android is an open platform that has at all times allowed for alternative and adaptability like a number of app shops and sideloading.

We’re interesting that underlying choice and we are going to ask the courts to pause Epic’s requested modifications, pending that enchantment. Our enchantment will present that:

• Apple and Google compete instantly for customers: The choice rests on a flawed discovering that Android is a market in itself. In distinction, the Apple choice, upheld on enchantment, rightly discovered that Android and iOS compete in the identical market. That is apparent to anybody who has purchased a smartphone. Stroll right into a retailer that sells smartphones and also you’ll see the choices side-by-side — Android telephones from firms like Samsung, Motorola and plenty of others competing proper subsequent to Apple’s iPhone. Individuals select between these telephones primarily based on value, high quality and safety.
• Google and Apple compete instantly for app builders: The choice ignores what each developer on the earth is aware of — they must prioritize investing in creating for iPhones and Androids. Builders have finite sources and must determine how a lot money and time to commit to constructing and updating their apps for every platform. Like every enterprise, Google desires builders to supply their greatest options for Android and to launch them on Android first. So we construct instruments, run coaching packages and put money into making it as straightforward as doable to develop for Android. Apple in fact does the identical — competing to persuade builders to prioritize iOS.
• Android is open and Google Play is just not the one approach to get apps: The choice fails to bear in mind that Android is an open platform and builders have at all times had many choices in find out how to distribute their apps. The truth is, most Android units come preloaded with two or extra app shops proper out of the field. Builders produce other choices too, comparable to providing their apps on to customers from their web sites. For instance, Epic Video games has made its common Fortnite app obtainable to Android customers by way of the Samsung Galaxy Retailer, sideloading, and the Epic Video games Retailer – all whereas Fortnite was not distributed by way of Google Play. These are choices that builders have by no means been capable of provide to their American customers on iPhones.

Android has helped broaden alternative, scale back costs and democratize entry to smartphones and apps. The preliminary choice and in the present day’s Epic-requested modifications put that in danger and undercut Android’s capability to compete with Apple’s iOS.

We look ahead to persevering with to make our case on enchantment, and we are going to hold advocating for what’s greatest for builders, gadget producers and the billions of Android customers world wide.