Epic Games v/s Google

In July 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling that will likely be remembered as a watershed in digital market regulation. In Epic Games Inc v/s Google LLC, the court upheld a jury verdict finding that Google unlawfully maintained monopoly power over Android app distribution and in-app billing. The judgment, accompanied by a wide-reaching injunction, not only reshaped the Android ecosystem but also raised enduring questions about platform dominance, market definition and the role of courts in regulating the digital economy.

While the litigation began as a conflict between one game developer and one platform operator, its implications extend far beyond the fortunes of “Fortnite” or the revenues of the Google Play Store. The case reveals much about how digital platforms consolidate power, the limits of self-proclaimed “open” ecosystems and the ability of antitrust