Epic Games Summons Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai
In a significant legal development, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is set to testify in an antitrust trial initiated by Epic Games Inc. This trial centers around the contentious policies of Google Play, with billions of dollars in app marketplace revenue hanging in the balance. The trial is scheduled to commence on November 6 in a San Francisco federal court and aims to determine whether Google Play’s policies are anti-competitive.
The roots of this legal battle trace back to 2020 when Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Alphabet’s Google. Epic alleged that Google’s app store policies related to distribution, payment, and fees violated antitrust laws. With Sundar Pichai and Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney listed as witnesses, this trial promises to shed light on the ongoing dispute.
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This legal clash is part of a more extensive antitrust battle, with complaints lodged by approximately three dozen state attorneys general, consumers, and Match Group Inc. These complaints collectively accuse Google of monopolistic behavior. Sundar Pichai’s testimony is expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the trial.
In addition to his involvement in the Google Play trial, Sundar Pichai is also slated to provide testimony in an ongoing Washington trial. In this separate case, the US Justice Department has accused Alphabet of maintaining a monopoly in web search. Pichai’s dual roles in these antitrust trials underscore the magnitude of the legal challenges faced by Alphabet.
Tentative Settlement with Google Play
Notably, Alphabet recently reached a tentative settlement regarding consumer and state attorneys general complaints against Google Play’s control over Android mobile applications. The specific terms of this settlement remain undisclosed, but if finalized, it will refocus the antitrust dispute on the claims made by Epic and Match Group Inc. These claims assert that Google leveraged its monopoly power to stifle competition in the Android app distribution market.
What to Expect During the Trial
During the trial, Epic Games’ legal team intends to question Sundar Pichai extensively, allocating an hour to inquire about various topics, including Android business practices and Google’s agreements with wireless carriers and mobile device manufacturers. Google’s legal representatives, on the other hand, plan to call Pichai for a 30-minute testimony to defend their app marketplace policies.
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Both Epic Games and Google will summon Tim Sweeney, with each side granting him 90 minutes to provide insights. Sweeney’s testimony will delve into Epic’s Games Store business and the company’s interactions with Google Play and Android.
This high-stakes antitrust trial, with Sundar Pichai at the forefront, could reshape the landscape of app marketplace regulations and have far-reaching implications for the tech industry as a whole. Stay tuned for updates as the trial unfolds.
