The illegal monopoly on the Google Play Store is temporarily suspended

In a remarkable turnaround in the legal battle between Epic Games and Google, a federal judge has granted Google a temporary stay on most changes to its Android App Store policies, originally scheduled for November 1st.

According to The Verge, this pause allows Google to continue its appeal against a December ruling that classified its Play Store as an illegal monopoly.

While the suspension postpones most of the necessary changes, it does impose one key restriction: From November 1, 2024 to November 1, 2027, Google cannot enter into deals that block the pre-installation of competing app stores. This development could delay significant changes in app store practices for years.

As the Ninth Circuit prepares to consider the case, the future of app store competition remains uncertain.

Google responded to monopoly claims and partnered with Cash App

Last summer, Google decided to step up its efforts to remove low-quality apps from the Play Store by updating its spam and minimum functionality policy, which was set to take effect on August 31, 2024. It became increasingly clear that Mountain View-based tech company was committed to further curating its Play Store library and improving the overall quality of its offerings.

The new policy targeted apps that lacked basic functionality and quality, including text-only apps, apps with only a wallpaper, apps that failed to install or load, and unresponsive apps. According to Android Authority, Google determined that “apps should provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience,” meaning that apps that crashed, didn’t have adequate content, or didn’t provide value were removed from the Play Store.

Additionally, Cash App Pay has partnered with Google Play to expand payment options for Android users when making online purchases. This integration allowed Cash App users to pay with their existing balance or linked debit cards, increasing convenience, particularly in the gaming space. Cash App said it has 4 million monthly active users and adds 1 million new users every quarter.