Google is suing Epic Games for allegedly violating Play Store agreements by the Fortnite developer, revenue evasion and exploiting Play Store security risks.
Which Google says in response to allegations that Epic Games Made This Summer against the search giant. Google denies the allegations, stating that Epic Games, in turn, intentionally violated the agreements of the Google Play Store, and that the search giant continues to lose revenue.
According to Google, if a developer wants to distribute apps through the Play Store, they must abide by Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement. This is a legally binding contract between a developer and Google that states, among other things, that Play Store apps may only contain Google’s payment system. “If Google Play Store apps offer in-app purchases and subscriptions, sales must be made through Google’s payment system. Apps must also not direct users to any payment method other than Google Play,” it said in the lawsuit.
Project Liberty
“This is exactly what Epic Games intentionally did on August 13, 2020,” the search giant said. Then the company made its payment methods available in Fortnite apps for Android and iOS through a fix Allowing Epic Games to upload data from its own servers to the app without Google or Apple knowing about it. Soon after, the iOS and Android apps were removed from the respective app stores and Epic Games filed a complaint against Apple and Google.
The latter now says that Epic Games was working on a file fix Thus exploiting a vulnerability in the Play Store. The fix Moreover, according to Google, it fits into a larger plan known at Epic Games as Project Liberty. According to the search giant, this was a premeditated attack on Apple and Google to generate more revenue and to advance the metaverse idea of Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games. According to Google, Epic Games has hired a PR firm to turn the description of his actions in his favour. According to the search giant, the seed of the project was sown at the beginning of 2019; Then Fortnite reportedly reached disappointing sales numbers.
Committees
Google removed Fortnite from the Play Store on August 13, 2020, but the Epic Games developer account has not been suspended. The search giant said it left room for Epic Games to propose a new version of Fortnite in line with Google Play Store policy, but is now also suggesting that it must still receive revenue from Epic Games.
“Android users who have downloaded the Google Play version of Fortnite will still be able to access the app and all in-app products even after the app is no longer available on the Play Store. As a result, we forfeit all commissions that we are contractually required to receive because the app was distributed through Google Play Store”. Epic Games has yet to respond to Google’s allegations.
Epic vs Apple
Epic Games went to court this year to sue the money transfer in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The company wants to offer its download stores and payment methods in Android and iOS apps, and believes that the companies behind these platforms, such as Apple and Google, have a lot of power. beginning of last month US judge ruling That Apple should not block external payments from apps.
The court disagreed with Epic’s argument that Apple would be a monopoly. The judge said the success was not illegal, but the trial showed that Apple engaged in anti-competitive practices, which is illegal in California. a few days ago Apple announced The company will appeal the court’s ruling. Tweakers Books Comprehensive background article about the ongoing lawsuit.
