US Judge Orders Changes to Google Play Store Following Monopoly Ruling

A US judge has ruled that following a jury finding Google guilty of running an "illegal monopoly" with its Play Store, the tech giant must allow third-party Android app stores to be distributed via the Play Store for a period of three years.

Google must permit these stores to have access to the Google Play Store’s catalog of apps. The company is also restricted from taking measures that could discourage developers from using third-party payment systems or launching their apps on other platforms first.

Additionally, Google cannot share revenue generated by the Google Play Store with any entity distributing Android apps or planning to launch a distribution platform or store.

Google plans to appeal the ruling and will ask for the changes to be paused until the legal process is completed.