Google App Store Monopoly Allegations

On 15 April, rival app store Aptoide sued Google over an alleged monopoly. On 1 July, South Korea’s trade watchdog alleged that Google had abused its position in the Android app-store market. The allegation increased regulatory scrutiny alongside the legal challenge. Reuters has also reported that Poland’s regulator suspects Google abused its dominant position in publisher payment talks, Switzerland’s regulator is probing Android’s default search feature, and Google is appealing a US court ruling on its search monopoly. The Verge says Google and Epic have stopped fighting and that third-party Android app stores are coming next week.

Taking this as factual, impact is 10%. Google faces separate legal and regulatory challenges involving Aptoide and South Korea’s trade watchdog. Rival Android stores also have more room to contest Google’s control of app distribution. For now, the result is pressure, paperwork and lawyers billing by the hour. These reports identify no market-wide remedy.

Watch for court developments in Aptoide’s lawsuit and any formal action or remedy from South Korea’s trade watchdog. The arrival of third-party Android app stores described by The Verge could change how much practical weight these monopoly allegations carry.

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