U.S. District Judge James Donato ordered Google to streamline third-party app store installations on Android. The ruling follows a compliance hearing in the landmark antitrust case brought by Epic Games.
Donato labeled the current multi-step procedure as anticompetitive friction. He cited extra buttons and deliberate roadblocks designed to discourage users from leaving the Play Store.
The court instructed Google to allow direct installation of competing stores from within the Play Store. Google must also improve search results for these alternative platforms.
Google has one week to implement these mandated changes.