In a bid to break Google's alleged monopoly in the Android app market, Epic Games has filed a proposed injunction seeking to prevent Google from restricting third-party app distribution outside of the Google Play Store. Epic Games claims that by enforcing this restriction, Google has unlawfully maintained its dominance in the market.

Epic Games has suggested that allowing third-party app stores to be distributed via the Google Play Store for a period of six years will promote competition on the Android mobile platform. Furthermore, they propose blocking Google from entering any agreements with device makers that would prevent the pre-loading of third-party app stores. According to Epic Games, implementing these reforms would not only benefit mobile developers but also users, as it would significantly limit Google's control over the Android app ecosystem.

The decision regarding the proposed injunction will ultimately rest in the hands of US District Court Judge James Donato. Google has until May 3 to respond to Epic Games' filing. Despite previously agreeing to a $700 million settlement with consumers and states after Epic Games' victory, Google plans to appeal the verdict.

A spokesperson from Google responded to Epic Games' filing, stating that Epic simply wants to benefit from Google Play without paying for it. The spokesperson further argued that Android is an open mobile platform facing fierce competition from the Apple App Store, as well as app stores on Android devices, PCs, and gaming consoles.

If Judge Donato accepts Epic Games' proposal, Google will be compelled to grant equal access to the Android operating system and platform features to all developers, not just those distributing apps through Google Play. This would enable third-party app stores to become app update owners, seamlessly updating apps downloaded from their stores, mirroring Google Play's functionality.

According to Epic Games' terms, apps downloaded from any source would operate identically to those from Google Play, without Google imposing any unnecessary distribution fees. Additionally, developers would have the freedom to provide their own in-app purchasing options and inform users about out-of-app purchasing alternatives, without relying on Google's APIs or facing additional fees.

Epic Games' lawsuit against Google was initiated after the removal of the game Fortnite from the Google Play Store. Epic had attempted to introduce an "Epic Direct Payment" option for in-game purchases, leading to the removal of their game.

The proposed injunction also includes an "anti-retaliation" section aimed at safeguarding Epic Games from further retaliation. If accepted, Google would be in violation of the injunction if it treats Epic differently than other developers, making it disproportionately difficult or costly for them to develop, update, and market their apps on Android.

As part of their long-term plans, Epic Games announced that their own app-distribution platform, the Epic Games Store, will be available on iOS and Android later this year. This multiplatform store aims to be the first-ever game-focused distribution platform, functioning seamlessly across Android, iOS, PC, and macOS.

The final decision on the proposed injunction will have significant implications for the Android app market, potentially introducing more competition and giving developers greater freedom to distribute their apps outside of Google Play.

Disclaimer: This article is generated by an AI assistant and may not reflect the views or opinions of the mentioned entities.