**Supreme Court Denies Google’s Appeal, Upholds Play Store Reform Order**
*By Mudit Dube | Oct 07, 2025, 10:30 AM*
The US Supreme Court has declined Google’s request to stay a lower court’s order mandating significant changes to its Play Store. This decision comes as Google prepares to appeal a lawsuit ruling filed by Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game Fortnite. The ruling, originally issued in July, was recently upheld by a federal appeals court.
### Details of the Injunction
The injunction, issued last year by US District Judge James Donato, requires Google to allow users to download rival app stores within the Play Store. Additionally, Google must make the Play Store’s app catalog accessible to competitors. However, these provisions will not take effect until July 2026.
Judge Donato also ruled that Google must permit developers to include external links within apps, enabling users to bypass Google’s billing system.
### Background of the Legal Battle
Epic Games filed the lawsuit against Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of violating antitrust laws through its restrictive app store policies. Epic won a jury trial in San Francisco in 2023.
Google has consistently denied any wrongdoing, calling Judge Donato’s order unprecedented. The company argues that the changes would cause reputational harm, pose safety and security risks, and place Google at a competitive disadvantage if implemented.
### Google’s Appeal Strategy
Google indicated in its Supreme Court filing that the mandated changes would significantly impact over 100 million US Android users and 500,000 developers. The company plans to file a full appeal with the Supreme Court by October 27, potentially prompting the justices to review the case during their current nine-month term.
### Epic Games’ Position and Competition Benefits
Epic Games has accused Google of using “flawed security claims” as a pretext to maintain tight control over Android devices. The developer urges the Supreme Court to allow Judge Donato’s injunction to take effect, arguing it will foster competition, provide consumers and developers with more choices, and lead to lower prices.
In July, a three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction. The panel highlighted that Epic’s lawsuit presented substantial evidence that Google’s anticompetitive conduct entrenched its dominance in the market.
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This ongoing legal battle marks a pivotal moment in the regulation of app stores and digital marketplaces, with far-reaching implications for developers, consumers, and tech industry competition.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/supreme-court-rules-against-google-forcing-play-store-policy-overhauls/story
