Google’s proposed Epic settlement would reduce app store fees globally and create an Open-Platform program that elevates alternative app stores to first-class status within the Android ecosystem, aiming to ease friction for developers and users.

The settlement is overseen by U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco, who previously ordered Play Store reforms; the agreement would modify the injunction under judicial review.

Under the proposal, maximum commissions would be capped—9% for some transactions and 20% for others involving Play-distributed apps that use alternative payment options, depending on content type.

Final terms would require court approval and could adjust the court’s earlier order while keeping core principles intact.

The proposal follows a court injunction and includes a hearing schedule, with court approval needed to finalize the resolution and end the litigation.

The plan preserves most of Judge Donato’s prior orders while adapting them to support open-platform goals and clearer criteria for third-party stores.

The reporting situates the news within ongoing tech antitrust scrutiny and industry reactions to major platform dynamics.

Google and Epic are meeting with Judge Donato as part of the process to secure court approval and finalize the settlement.

Details such as which specific fees are reduced, the mechanics of the alternate store program, timelines, and conditions are not included in the excerpt and would appear in the full article.

If approved, the changes could influence broader industry practices and potentially affect how other platforms approach app stores and billing.

Google’s appellate history shows losses on injunctions, with higher courts upholding parts of the injunction and the Supreme Court not freezing certain provisions; the Epic case remains active alongside other antitrust challenges.

The agreement would maintain Donato’s injunction provisions against exclusivity payments to manufacturers, carriers, or developers in favor of Play, with terms extending globally through 2032.