Google and Epic Games have proposed an agreement aimed at resolving their legal disputes regarding Play Store rules and transaction fees, a conflict that has garnered the attention of the tech industry.
This agreement, which was presented before Judge James Donato of the U.S. District Court, requires his approval to take effect.
If accepted, it would prevent Google from establishing exclusivity agreements with developers and would require the company to make modifications to Android to facilitate the installation of ‘Registered App Stores’.
A historic agreement for software developers
The new approach, which would extend until 2032, also includes the proposal that Google limit transaction fees in the Play Store to a maximum of 9% or 20%, depending on the type of transaction, a change that could benefit developers by reducing their operating costs.
This agreement would replace a previous solution that had a validity of only three years, which, according to both companies, is a significant improvement for consumers.
Executives from both companies have expressed their enthusiasm for the agreement. Sameer Samat, president of Google’s Android ecosystem, stated on Twitter that the main goal is to expand options and flexibility for developers, promote healthy competition, and at the same time, ensure user security.
For his part, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic, emphasized that this proposal reinforces the vision of Android as an open platform, in contrast to Apple’s restrictive model, which has been involved in similar litigation.
The next step will be to discuss this proposal with Judge Donato, who previously issued a permanent injunction requiring changes in the Play Store. This proposal is expected to be a key step in redefining the app market on the Android platform and the relationship between Google and developers. The industry will be watching closely for the results of this important court meeting.