Google Seeks Supreme Court Stay in Epic Games Antitrust Case, Warns of Android Ecosystem Damage

Google has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to delay an antitrust mandate stemming from Epic Games' lawsuit, arguing that enforced changes to its Android ecosystem WOULD cause "irreparable harm." The tech giant aims to pause the ruling—scheduled to take effect October 22—while it appeals the decision.

The legal battle began when Epic Games accused Google of anti-competitive practices, including locking developers into the Google Play Store through restrictive contracts and secret deals with phone manufacturers. A December 2023 jury verdict sided with Epic, finding Google violated antitrust laws. The Ninth Circuit Court upheld this decision in July 2024, ordering Google to allow alternative app stores and payment systems.

Google contends the mandate will compromise user safety and stifle Android innovation. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the court's ruling as a landmark victory for developer freedom. The outcome could reshape app distribution economics, though cryptocurrency markets remain unaffected—no direct impact on major digital assets like BTC or ETH was observed following the news.