**Supreme Court Denies Google’s Appeal, Upholds Play Store Reform Order**
*By Mudit Dube | Oct 07, 2025, 10:30 am*
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**Overview**
The US Supreme Court has declined Google’s request to stay a lower court’s order that mandates significant changes to its Play Store. This decision comes as Google prepares to file a full appeal against a ruling in a high-profile lawsuit brought by Epic Games, the developer of the popular game Fortnite. The July ruling was previously upheld by a federal appeals court.
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**Details of the Injunction**
The injunction, issued last year by US District Judge James Donato, requires Google to permit users to download rival app stores within the Play Store environment. Additionally, Google must make its app catalog available to competitors. However, these provisions will not take effect until July 2026.
Judge Donato also ruled that Google must allow developers to include external links in their apps, enabling users to bypass Google’s billing system altogether.
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**Background of the Legal Battle**
Epic Games filed the lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that Google’s restrictive Play Store policies violate antitrust laws. In 2023, Epic won a jury trial in San Francisco, marking a significant legal victory against the tech giant.
Google has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling Judge Donato’s order as “unprecedented.” The company argues that enforcing the injunction would cause reputational damage, compromise user safety and security, and place Google at a competitive disadvantage.
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**Google’s Appeal Strategy**
Google plans to file a full appeal with the Supreme Court by October 27. In their filing, the company emphasized that the proposed changes could impact over 100 million Android users in the US as well as approximately 500,000 developers.
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to hear the full appeal could come during their current nine-month term, which began recently.
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**Epic Games’ Response and Competition Implications**
Epic Games has accused Google of using “flawed security claims” as a rationale for maintaining strict control over Android devices and the Play Store.
Epic urges the Supreme Court to allow Judge Donato’s injunction to take effect, arguing that it will foster competition, increase consumer choice, and lower prices.
In July, a three-judge panel from the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction, stating that Epic’s lawsuit was “replete with evidence that Google’s anticompetitive conduct entrenched its dominance.”
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As this legal battle continues, its outcome could have far-reaching consequences for app developers, consumers, and the broader mobile ecosystem. Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/supreme-court-rules-against-google-forcing-play-store-policy-overhauls/story
