Google wins delay of order to open up app store from Epic case

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has won a temporary delay of a directive to open up its app store while a federal court rules on the company’s appeal.

U.S. District Judge James Donato allowed for the delay of his order for Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) to allow for developers to set up their own app marketplaces independent of its Play Store, and to do so by Nov. 1 — a deadline Google bristled at, suggesting it wasn’t technically possible.

The Oct. 7 order stemmed from Google’s loss in a lawsuit from Epic Games, developer of hit videogame Fortnite, after years of challenges from Epic to app-store leaders Google and Apple (AAPL).

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is set to look at the handling of the trial, which Google lost last December.

Epic Games is majority owned by its CEO Tim Sweeney, though Tencent (OTCPK:TCEHY) maintains a 35% stake and Sony (SONY) a 5.4% holding.

See what’s at stake in the recent ruling over allowing alternative app stores.