Google and Epic Games Clash in High-Stakes Trial Over App Store Fees
In the Epic vs Google trial, Google defended its 30% cut of all transactions on its Play store, describing it as a "market fee" rather than a monopoly fee. Google argued that other stores, such as Nintendo, Xbox, and Steam, charge the same fee to mega developers like Epic. However, Epic Games Store head Steve Allison testified that the 30% fee is not the standard, citing examples of different revenue shares in the industry. The impact of the fee was also discussed, with a witness stating that Google's policies resulted in fewer users paying for an app. Additionally, Allison revealed that the Epic Games Store is still not profitable. The trial centers around Epic's claims of anti-competitive practices by Google, including the 30% fee and anti-steering policies.