In a San Francisco courtroom, the developer behind the immensely popular video game Fortnite, Epic Games, has initiated legal proceedings against Google. At the heart of this legal battle is Epic Games’ accusation that Google is operating as a monopoly, imposing a substantial 30% commission on in-app purchases made through the Google Play store. This accusation holds particular significance, as Google had once coined the motto “Don’t be Evil” when the company was founded back in 1998, a principle that Epic Games contends has been abandoned.

In response to these allegations, Google has put forth the argument that there are numerous alternative methods for Android phone users to acquire and download applications, suggesting that the Google Play store’s commission structure is not monopolistic in nature. Google has persistently maintained that it competes with Apple, thus rejecting any assertions of monopolistic practices within the Google Play ecosystem.

This legal battle adds to the growing list of antitrust challenges that Google is currently facing. Simultaneously, the company is defending itself in a Washington court where the United States Department of Justice has accused Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly over the search engine industry.

The familiarity of Epic Games’ allegations against Google stems from a similar case brought against Apple in 2021. In 2020, both Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their respective platforms after the game incorporated its proprietary payment system. Notably, in the case against Apple, the judge did not declare Apple a monopoly but did permit apps to guide users away from Apple’s in-app payment options.

Epic Games contends that Google has effectively “eliminated competition in the distribution of Android apps through various contractual and technical impediments.” Conversely, Google asserts that the Android platform provides more avenues for app distribution than any other operating system, thereby fostering a competitive environment for app developers.