Google’s Defense: Policy Enforcement or Power Play?
Google has countered that Unlockd’s removal was not a hit job but rather the result of repeated violations of Play Store rules. According to Google, Unlockd’s business model breached policies banning ads outside an app’s core experience and requiring that apps offer more than just advertisements and rewards.
Moreover, Google insists that Glance operates differently from Unlockd, dismissing any suggestion of an anti-competitive scheme.
What’s Next?
With the Ninth Circuit now set to weigh in, Unlockd’s antitrust battle against Google is far from over. If the appeals court sides with the startup, the case could return to trial, putting Google’s dominance in the digital advertising space under renewed scrutiny.
Neither party has provided additional comment at this time, but all eyes will be on the Ninth Circuit as it decides whether this David-and-Goliath battle deserves another round in court.
