Epic vs Google: Google claims it would cost millions of dollars to open Play Store to rivals

Google revealed it would cost millions of dollars and take over a year to allow other app stores to operate within its Google Play Store. This information comes in response to Epic Games' victory in a lawsuit against Google last December, where a jury ruled that the Google Play store was an illegal monopoly.

According to court documents, the main changes Epic is seeking would cost Google between $61.3 million and $137 million, with a timeframe of 12 to 18 months to implement. These estimates were provided after a judge requested Google to calculate the potential costs. The most significant expenses would come from allowing other app stores to access Google Play apps, enabling users to transfer their apps to other stores, distributing third-party app stores within Google Play, and reviewing apps from these external stores.

While these figures may seem substantial, it's worth noting that Google generates billions in profit from the Play Store each quarter. In 2021 alone, the company projected nearly $12 billion in profit from the store. Despite this, Google argues that the proposed changes could have harmful effects beyond just financial implications.

Google claims that these alterations could potentially harm Android users and developers, increasing the risk of malware and pirated apps. They also express concerns about potential damage to their reputation and user safety. Additionally, Google suggests that app developers might face new regulatory and compliance risks on a global scale if these changes are implemented.

The tech giant has also indicated that it would want to charge other app stores a fee if forced to make these modifications. Epic Games now has the opportunity to question Google's estimates and file a rebuttal. A final court hearing is scheduled for August 14th, where both parties will present their arguments regarding the proposed changes and their potential impacts on the Android ecosystem.

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