Google Seeks Emergency Stay from 9th Circuit, Calls Epic Ruling ‘Dangerous’

A recent ruling, which Google has decided to appeal, mandates that the company allow the distribution of third-party app stores through Google Play. It also removes the requirement for apps distributed via Google Play to use Google Play Billing. The majority of these changes are set to take effect on November 1st, which is just over two weeks away.

However, Google maintains that this ruling poses a threat to the ability of Google Play to ensure a safe and trusted user experience. This argument mirrors many of Google’s previous contentions during the district court case, which Judge Donato dismissed as insufficient.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, expressed concerns in a fact sheet distributed to journalists, stating that the ruling could negatively impact not only Google but also Android users, developers, and device manufacturers who have built successful businesses on the Android platform.

The fact sheet is divided into five sections, each highlighting Google’s objections. The company’s filing with the court begins by emphasizing the ramifications of the court-ordered changes. At the request of competitor Epic Games, the District Court has instructed significant redesigns to the Google Play Store, which could introduce substantial security risks to over 100 million Android users in the United States. Google argues that these changes would necessitate fundamental amendments to its contractual and business relationships with numerous partners, all within a challenging three-week timeframe, potentially compromising safety and security within the Android ecosystem.

The complete fact sheet and Google’s emergency motion are available for review.

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