Tag Archives: Google

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Supreme Court denies Google’s appeal, upholds Play Store reform order

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**Supreme Court Denies Google’s Appeal, Upholds Play Store Reform Order**

*By Mudit Dube | Oct 07, 2025, 10:30 AM*

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**Overview**

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined Google’s request to stay a lower court’s order that mandates significant changes to its Play Store. This decision comes as Google prepares to appeal a ruling in a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game Fortnite. The injunction, originally issued in July and upheld by a federal appeals court, aims to address alleged antitrust violations by Google.

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**Details of the Injunction**

The injunction was issued last year by U.S. District Judge James Donato. Under the order, Google is required to allow users to download rival app stores within its own Play Store. Additionally, Google must make its Play Store app catalog available to competitors.

However, these provisions are not set to take effect until July 2026. Judge Donato also ruled that Google must permit developers to include external links within apps, enabling users to bypass Google’s billing system.

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**Background of the Legal Battle**

Epic Games filed the lawsuit against Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of violating antitrust laws through its restrictive app store policies. Epic succeeded in a jury trial held in San Francisco in 2023.

Google, meanwhile, has denied any wrongdoing. The company described Judge Donato’s order as unprecedented and warned that it could cause reputational harm, pose safety and security risks, and place Google at a competitive disadvantage if enforced.

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**Google’s Appeal Strategy**

In its Supreme Court filing, Google emphasized that the mandated changes would impact over 100 million U.S. Android users and 500,000 developers. The company plans to submit a full appeal to the Supreme Court by October 27. This could prompt the justices to consider taking up the case during their nine-month term, which began recently.

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**Epic Games’ Response and Industry Impact**

Epic Games has accused Google of using “flawed security claims” as a pretext for maintaining strict control over Android devices. The company urges the Supreme Court to allow Judge Donato’s injunction to take effect, arguing that it would foster competition, increase consumer choice, and lower prices.

In July, a three-judge panel from the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction. The panel highlighted that Epic’s lawsuit presented substantial evidence that Google’s anticompetitive conduct has entrenched its dominance in the market.

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**Conclusion**

The Supreme Court’s refusal to block Judge Donato’s order marks a significant development in the ongoing antitrust battle against Google. As the legal proceedings continue, the case could reshape the landscape of app distribution and billing on Android devices, potentially benefiting both developers and consumers through increased competition and choice.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/supreme-court-rules-against-google-forcing-play-store-policy-overhauls/story

business, politics, technology

China ends Google antitrust probe, shifts regulatory focus to NVIDIA

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**China Ends Google Antitrust Probe, Shifts Regulatory Focus to NVIDIA**

*By Akash Pandey | Sep 18, 2025*

China has decided to end its antitrust investigation into tech giant Google, just six months after the probe was launched, according to the *Financial Times*. This decision comes amid escalating trade talks between Beijing and Washington, particularly concerning the popular app TikTok.

It is important to note that Google has not yet been officially informed about the termination of the investigation.

### Details of the Probe into Google’s Android OS

The investigation, initiated in February by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, focused on Google’s market dominance through its Android operating system. The probe particularly examined how this dominance affects Chinese smartphone manufacturers such as OPPO and Xiaomi, which rely heavily on Google’s software ecosystem.

In Chinese regulatory terminology, the closure of this probe is described as “zhongzhi.”

### Strategic Shift in China’s Regulatory Focus

The decision to end the Google case is seen as a conciliatory gesture towards the United States, signaling Beijing’s willingness to negotiate. A source told the *Financial Times*, “Drop one case but seize the other. China is trying to narrow its retaliatory targets to make them more potent.”

Accordingly, China has now shifted its regulatory attention towards NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable chipmaker. This move is widely viewed as a potential bargaining chip in the ongoing US-China trade discussions.

### TikTok Ban Extended for Another Three Months

In related developments, US President Donald Trump recently announced an agreement with China regarding the sale of TikTok. This announcement followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s confirmation of a “framework agreement” reached between the two countries over the app.

Despite this progress, President Trump has signed an executive order to extend the US ban on TikTok by three additional months. This marks the fourth extension of a law aimed at compelling the app’s sale from its Chinese parent company.

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As negotiations continue, China’s regulatory maneuvers reflect a delicate balance between economic strategy and diplomatic signaling in the tense US-China relationship.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/china-ends-probe-into-google-amid-trade-talks-with-us/story