Google Asks Supreme Court to Intervene in Dispute With Fortnite Creator

Google has filed an emergency request with the US Supreme Court, seeking to block a lower court order that would require the tech giant to make significant changes to its Google Play app store. The proposed changes, set to take effect on October 22, are the result of a years-long antitrust dispute with Epic Games, the developer of the popular online game Fortnite.In its request for emergency relief, Google argued that the lower court's order would likely cause "irreparable harm" to millions of Android users and thousands of developers. The company urged the Supreme Court justices to intervene and pause parts of the trial judge's order, which it claims would have far-reaching and devastating consequences.The dispute between Google and Epic Games began in 2018, when Epic Games released Fortnite as a smartphone app. Initially, the company distributed the game through direct mobile downloads and Samsung's Galaxy Store, but later made it available on the Google Play Store. However, Epic Games embedded secret code into the app's software, allowing players to bypass Google's payment-processing systems, which charged a 30% commission.Google responded by removing Fortnite from the Play Store, citing non-compliance with its terms of service. Epic Games then sued Google in 2020, alleging that the company maintained a monopoly in the smartphone app store market and engaged in anticompetitive conduct.The lower court's order, which Google is seeking to block, would require the company to make significant changes to its Play Store business model. Google claims that these changes would harm Android users and developers, and is seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to prevent them from taking effect.The Supreme Court's decision on Google's request is expected to have significant implications for the tech industry, particularly in the areas of app store regulation and antitrust law. If the court grants Google's request, it could temporarily block the lower court's order, allowing Google to maintain its current business practices. However, if the court denies the request, Google may be forced to make significant changes to its Play Store, potentially altering the way it operates in the smartphone app market.