Google has urged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court ruling requiring it to permit third-party app distribution on its Play Store, arguing the decision undermines its ability to compete with Apple and threatens its Android ecosystem.
In an opening brief filed Wednesday, Google described the injunction as part of Epic Games’ attempt to “restructure” Google’s business model through federal courts, calling the lawsuit a bid to reshape markets in ways that could harm consumers and developers.
Google asserted the Ninth Circuit should reverse both the injunction and the liability ruling that led to it, claiming the decision compromises the competitive dynamic between Android and Apple’s iOS platforms. This rivalry, the company said, has historically spurred innovation and benefited users globally.
Antitrust Claims and Differing Court Rulings
Epic Games’ lawsuit is part of its broader legal strategy targeting alleged antitrust violations by Apple and Google. Google contends, however, that Epic’s claims falter due to the fierce competition between the two tech giants, whose app stores operate within the same market.
