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Google Relents on Third-Party App Stores in the US

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Today, 1:42 PM by Rich Brome @rbrome.bsky.social

Google and Epic have abruptly ended their prolonged legal battle over third-party app stores, with Google agreeing to a far more permissive model than the one it announced in March. Now, Google will allow third-party app stores to be downloaded via its own Google Play Store, instead of requiring more cumbersome side-loading. Further, Google will give third-party app stores access to the Play Store's catalog of apps (although individual app developers can opt out from this). Both of these concessions were part of the original court order issued in 2024, which Google had been fighting in court ever since. It has now withdrawn from that fight, and told the court it is ready to comply as soon as next week. These new policies only apply within the US for now. Developers of third-party app stores must still adhere to a number of security and policy requirements set by Google.

The Verge »

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