Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to halt key provisions within a lower court’s ruling that would force major changes to the company’s app store payment system.
On September 12, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) had until October to cease the practice of forcing app developers to use Google Play Billing for payments, and allow them to link to other payment options, set their own prices, and deploy other options to download apps.
In response, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) claimed the court’s ruling was “unprecedented” and would put the company at a competitive disadvantage if enforced by requiring Google (GOOG) to restructure the entire Android ecosystem.
“The injunction exposes these users and developers to substantial new safety and security risks and compels Google to act as both supplier and distributor for its direct competitors,” the company stated in its application.
To delay implementation of the court’s order, Google (GOOG) is asking the Supreme Court to put the order on hold while Google (GOOG) prepares its appeal to SCOTUS by October 27.
The recent ruling stems from an antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games in 2020 accusing Google (GOOG) of monopolizing how consumers can access and pay for apps on Android devices. Epic won a jury trial in 2023, forcing the tech giant to make changes to its app protocols.