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States Target Google Play Store Practices in Antitrust Suit<blockquote>各州在反垄断诉讼中针对Google Play商店的做法</blockquote>

Three dozen states and the District of Columbia filed an antitrust lawsuit against AlphabetInc.’s Go

States Target Google Play Store Practices in Antitrust Suit<blockquote>各州在反垄断诉讼中针对Google Play商店的做法</blockquote>

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{"i18n":{"language":"zh_CN"},"data":{"magic":2,"id":149271779,"tweetId":"149271779","gmtCreate":1625733058791,"gmtModify":1631890354447,"author":{"id":3586247812995498,"idStr":"3586247812995498","authorId":3586247812995498,"authorIdStr":"3586247812995498","name":"Qkumba78","avatar":"https://static.tigerbbs.com/f9e01f6ccf04373db649d7bb184d086d","vip":1,"userType":1,"introduction":"","boolIsFan":false,"boolIsHead":false,"crmLevel":11,"crmLevelSwitch":0,"individualDisplayBadges":[],"fanSize":2,"starInvestorFlag":false},"themes":[],"images":[],"coverImages":[],"extraTitle":"","html":"<html><head></head><body>Like.&nbsp;</body></html>","htmlText":"<html><head></head><body>Like.&nbsp;</body></html>","text":"Like.","highlighted":1,"essential":1,"paper":1,"likeSize":1,"commentSize":0,"repostSize":0,"favoriteSize":0,"link":"https://laohu8.com/post/149271779","repostId":1150920713,"repostType":4,"repost":{"id":"1150920713","kind":"news","pubTimestamp":1625729674,"share":"https://www.laohu8.com/m/news/1150920713?lang=zh_CN&edition=full","pubTime":"2021-07-08 15:34","market":"us","language":"en","title":"States Target Google Play Store Practices in Antitrust Suit<blockquote>各州在反垄断诉讼中针对Google Play商店的做法</blockquote>","url":"https://stock-news.laohu8.com/highlight/detail?id=1150920713","media":"WSJ","summary":"Three dozen states and the District of Columbia filed an antitrust lawsuit against AlphabetInc.’s Go","content":"Three dozen states and the District of Columbia filed an antitrust lawsuit against&nbsp;AlphabetInc.’s&nbsp;Google on Wednesday, alleging that the company operates an illegal monopoly with its Google Play app store.<blockquote>周三，36个州和哥伦比亚特区对AlphabetInc.旗下的谷歌提起反垄断诉讼，指控该公司通过其Google Play应用商店进行非法垄断。</blockquote> The bipartisan antitrust suit adds to the company’s mounting legal challenges. Led by the state of Utah and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, it alleges that the company has monopolized the distribution of apps on mobile devices that run the Google-owned Android operating system, blocking competition through contracts, technical barriers and other means.<blockquote>两党反垄断诉讼增加了该公司日益严峻的法律挑战。由犹他州牵头，向美国加州北区地方法院提起诉讼，指控该公司垄断了运行谷歌旗下Android操作系统的移动设备上应用程序的分发，通过合同、技术壁垒等手段阻碍竞争。</blockquote> In a blog post, Google said it provides an open operating system in which customers are free to download apps directly from developers’ websites.<blockquote>谷歌在一篇博客文章中表示，它提供了一个开放的操作系统，客户可以直接从开发者的网站免费下载应用。</blockquote> “It’s strange that a group of state attorneys general chose to file a lawsuit attacking a system that provides more openness and choice than others,” wrote Wilson White, senior director of public policy.<blockquote>公共政策高级主任威尔逊·怀特写道：“奇怪的是，一群州检察长选择提起诉讼，攻击一个比其他系统提供更多开放性和选择的系统。”</blockquote> Over the past year, Google has faced lawsuits from state and federal officials over its dominance of search advertising and its ad tech business.<blockquote>在过去的一年里，谷歌因其在搜索广告和广告技术业务中的主导地位而面临州和联邦官员的诉讼。</blockquote> Google has built a multibillion-dollar digital empire over the past decade by becoming the primary gatekeeper for apps that are downloaded to smartphones using its Android operating system. It requires apps distributed through its Play Store to use a Google payment system and collects a 15% to 30% service fee on sales.<blockquote>过去十年，谷歌成为使用其Android操作系统下载到智能手机上的应用程序的主要看门人，建立了一个价值数十亿美元的数字帝国。它要求通过其Play Store分发的应用程序使用谷歌支付系统，并对销售收取15%至30%的服务费。</blockquote> The states’ lawsuit challenges Google’s description of Android as an open operating system.<blockquote>各州的诉讼挑战了谷歌将Android描述为开放操作系统的说法。</blockquote> It targets the in-app payment requirement, saying it has allowed Google to monopolize in-app payments on Android phones and charge excessive commissions.<blockquote>它针对的是应用内支付要求，称其允许谷歌垄断安卓手机的应用内支付，并收取过高的佣金。</blockquote> Practices such as those harm consumers by raising the prices of apps and weakening competition between developers that could lead to more secure apps with better features, the suit alleges.<blockquote>诉讼称，此类做法提高了应用程序的价格，削弱了开发者之间的竞争，从而损害了消费者，而开发者之间的竞争可能会带来更安全、功能更好的应用程序。</blockquote> The states also accuse Google of trying to “buy off”Samsung ElectronicsCo., a manufacturer of smartphones.<blockquote>美国还指责谷歌试图“收买”智能手机制造商三星电子公司。</blockquote> Samsung’s Galaxy app store competes with Google Play, and Google offered to compensate Samsung if the latter company would “give up its direct commercial relationships in app distribution with consumers and developers,” the suit alleges. Samsung didn’t respond to a request for comment.<blockquote>诉讼称，三星的Galaxy应用商店与Google Play竞争，如果后者“放弃与消费者和开发者在应用分发方面的直接商业关系”，谷歌将向三星提供补偿。三星没有回应置评请求。</blockquote> The case from the states against Google’s app store follows an antitrust case filed by Epic Games Inc., which alleged that Google acted in an anticompetitive way in operating the store and eventually pulling the company’s “Fortnite” game from its virtual shelves. Epic has a similar lawsuit againstAppleInc.<blockquote>各州针对谷歌应用商店的案件是在Epic Games Inc.提起反垄断诉讼之后提起的，该诉讼指控谷歌在运营商店时以反竞争的方式行事，并最终将该公司的“堡垒之夜”游戏从其虚拟货架上撤下。Epic对苹果公司也有类似的诉讼。</blockquote> In a tweet, Epic Chief Executive Tim Sweeney said Google blocks competition on Android phones. “It’s tragic that the ‘Don’t Be Evil’ company let it come to this,” he wrote.<blockquote>Epic首席执行官蒂姆·斯威尼(Tim Sweeney)在一条推文中表示，谷歌阻止了Android手机上的竞争。“‘不要作恶’公司让事情发展到这一步，这是一个悲剧，”他写道。</blockquote> Thestates began their investigationinto Google about two years ago. Over the course of the following year, attorneys general focused on separate areas of Google’s business with an eye on bringing a single suit against the search company, according to people familiar with the matter.<blockquote>大约两年前，各州开始对谷歌进行调查。据知情人士透露，在接下来的一年里，总检察长们专注于谷歌业务的不同领域，着眼于对这家搜索公司提起单一诉讼。</blockquote> Instead of one case, the states split up across several issues. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes deemed the Play Store anticompetitive last year and planned to bring a suit, but decided to wait until 2021 after Colorado and Texas filed separate suits against Google’s search and ad tech businesses, according to these people.<blockquote>各州在几个问题上出现分歧，而不是一个案例。据这些人士透露，犹他州总检察长肖恩·雷耶斯去年认为Play Store反竞争，并计划提起诉讼，但在科罗拉多州和德克萨斯州分别对谷歌的搜索和广告技术业务提起诉讼后，决定等到2021年。</blockquote> The Justice Department isscrutinizing the business practicesof Apple. The state investigation of Google began sooner, according to people familiar with the matter, and was further along than the Apple probe.<blockquote>司法部正在审查苹果的商业行为。据知情人士透露，州政府对谷歌的调查开始得更早，也比苹果的调查进行得更远。</blockquote> The suit filed Wednesday came days after Google updated its Play Store policy, requiring developers to use a proprietary application format for apps distributed through its store. The company said the change reduces app size to speed downloads for users. The policy update triggered criticism from developers who alleged that it would lock apps into the Play Store and discourage competing distributors.<blockquote>周三提起的诉讼是在谷歌更新其Play Store政策几天后提起的，要求开发者在通过其商店分发的应用程序中使用专有的应用程序格式。该公司表示，这一变化缩小了应用程序的大小，以加快用户的下载速度。这项政策更新引发了开发者的批评，他们声称这将把应用程序锁定在Play Store中，并阻止竞争的分销商。</blockquote> The updated policy influenced the timing of the Utah filing, the people familiar with the matter said.<blockquote>知情人士称，更新后的政策影响了犹他州提交文件的时间。</blockquote> The case could be difficult for states to win. Unlike Apple, which exclusively distributes apps through its store, Android device owners can access apps through other app marketplaces. Proponents of the case argue that the market share of those competitors is dwarfed by Google.<blockquote>各州可能很难胜诉。与通过其商店独家分发应用程序的苹果不同，Android设备所有者可以通过其他应用市场访问应用程序。该案的支持者认为，这些竞争对手的市场份额与谷歌相比相形见绌。</blockquote> The Utah-led lawsuit says that the Play store has a 90% share of app distribution on Android phones and that no competitor has more than a 5% share. It says that Google’s rules restrict direct downloads of apps and only allows so-called sideloading to “maintain its image of ‘openness.’”<blockquote>犹他州主导的诉讼称，Play store在Android手机上拥有90%的应用分发份额，没有竞争对手的份额超过5%。它表示，谷歌的规则限制应用程序的直接下载，只允许所谓的侧装，以“保持其‘开放’的形象”。</blockquote> Google earlier this year reduced its commission on Play store sales,cutting its fees to 15% from 30%on the first $1 million developers earn. Roughly $38.6 billion was spent in the Play store last year, while the App Store generated $72.3 billion, according to Sensor Tower, a firm that tracks the app industry.<blockquote>谷歌今年早些时候降低了Play store销售佣金，将开发者收入前100万美元的费用从30%降至15%。根据追踪应用行业的公司Sensor Tower的数据，去年Play store的支出约为386亿美元，而App Store的收入为723亿美元。</blockquote> The timing of a trial over the Play store will be determined in the months ahead. The Justice Department’s antitrust suit against Google is scheduled for trial in 2023, targeting its dominant search-engine business. Two other ongoing state antitrust lawsuits are set to begin at about the same time.<blockquote>Play store试用的时间将在未来几个月内确定。司法部针对谷歌的反垄断诉讼定于2023年审理，目标是其占主导地位的搜索引擎业务。另外两起正在进行的州反垄断诉讼也将同时开始。</blockquote>","collect":0,"html":"<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html>\n<head>\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\" />\n<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0,minimum-scale=1.0,maximum-scale=1.0,user-scalable=no\"/>\n<meta name=\"format-detection\" content=\"telephone=no,email=no,address=no\" />\n<title>States Target Google Play Store Practices in Antitrust Suit<blockquote>各州在反垄断诉讼中针对Google Play商店的做法</blockquote></title>\n<style type=\"text/css\">\na,abbr,acronym,address,applet,article,aside,audio,b,big,blockquote,body,canvas,caption,center,cite,code,dd,del,details,dfn,div,dl,dt,\nem,embed,fieldset,figcaption,figure,footer,form,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,header,hgroup,html,i,iframe,img,ins,kbd,label,legend,li,mark,menu,nav,\nobject,ol,output,p,pre,q,ruby,s,samp,section,small,span,strike,strong,sub,summary,sup,table,tbody,td,tfoot,th,thead,time,tr,tt,u,ul,var,video{ font:inherit;margin:0;padding:0;vertical-align:baseline;border:0 }\nbody{ font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#999; background:transparent; }\n.wrapper{ overflow:hidden;word-break:break-all;padding:10px; }\nh1,h2{ font-weight:normal; line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:.6em; }\nh3,h4,h5,h6{ line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:1em; }\nh1{ font-size:24px; }\nh2{ font-size:20px; }\nh3{ font-size:18px; }\nh4{ font-size:16px; }\nh5{ font-size:14px; }\nh6{ font-size:12px; }\np,ul,ol,blockquote,dl,table{ margin:1.2em 0; }\nul,ol{ margin-left:2em; }\nul{ list-style:disc; }\nol{ list-style:decimal; }\nli,li p{ margin:10px 0;}\nimg{ max-width:100%;display:block;margin:0 auto 1em; }\nblockquote{ color:#B5B2B1; border-left:3px solid #aaa; padding:1em; }\nstrong,b{font-weight:bold;}\nem,i{font-style:italic;}\ntable{ width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:1px;margin:1em 0;font-size:.9em; }\nth,td{ padding:5px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #aaa; }\nth{ font-weight:bold;background:#5d5d5d; }\n.symbol-link{font-weight:bold;}\n/* header{ border-bottom:1px solid #494756; } */\n.title{ margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.3;color:#ddd; }\n.meta {color:#5e5c6d;font-size:13px;margin:0 0 .5em; }\na{text-decoration:none; color:#2a4b87;}\n.meta .head { display: inline-block; overflow: hidden}\n.head .h-thumb { width: 30px; height: 30px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border-radius: 50%; float: left;}\n.head .h-content { margin: 0; padding: 0 0 0 9px; float: left;}\n.head .h-name {font-size: 13px; color: #eee; margin: 0;}\n.head .h-time {font-size: 12.5px; color: #7E829C; margin: 0;}\n.small {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.9); -webkit-transform: scale(0.9); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.smaller {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.8); -webkit-transform: scale(0.8); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.bt-text {font-size: 12px;margin: 1.5em 0 0 0}\n.bt-text p {margin: 0}\n</style>\n</head>\n<body>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<header>\n<h2 class=\"title\">\nStates Target Google Play Store Practices in Antitrust Suit<blockquote>各州在反垄断诉讼中针对Google Play商店的做法</blockquote>\n</h2>\n<h4 class=\"meta\">\n\nWSJ2021-07-08 15:34\n\n</h4>\n</header>\n<article>\nThree dozen states and the District of Columbia filed an antitrust lawsuit against&nbsp;AlphabetInc.’s&nbsp;Google on Wednesday, alleging that the company operates an illegal monopoly with its Google Play app store.<blockquote>周三，36个州和哥伦比亚特区对AlphabetInc.旗下的谷歌提起反垄断诉讼，指控该公司通过其Google Play应用商店进行非法垄断。</blockquote> The bipartisan antitrust suit adds to the company’s mounting legal challenges. Led by the state of Utah and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, it alleges that the company has monopolized the distribution of apps on mobile devices that run the Google-owned Android operating system, blocking competition through contracts, technical barriers and other means.<blockquote>两党反垄断诉讼增加了该公司日益严峻的法律挑战。由犹他州牵头，向美国加州北区地方法院提起诉讼，指控该公司垄断了运行谷歌旗下Android操作系统的移动设备上应用程序的分发，通过合同、技术壁垒等手段阻碍竞争。</blockquote> In a blog post, Google said it provides an open operating system in which customers are free to download apps directly from developers’ websites.<blockquote>谷歌在一篇博客文章中表示，它提供了一个开放的操作系统，客户可以直接从开发者的网站免费下载应用。</blockquote> “It’s strange that a group of state attorneys general chose to file a lawsuit attacking a system that provides more openness and choice than others,” wrote Wilson White, senior director of public policy.<blockquote>公共政策高级主任威尔逊·怀特写道：“奇怪的是，一群州检察长选择提起诉讼，攻击一个比其他系统提供更多开放性和选择的系统。”</blockquote> Over the past year, Google has faced lawsuits from state and federal officials over its dominance of search advertising and its ad tech business.<blockquote>在过去的一年里，谷歌因其在搜索广告和广告技术业务中的主导地位而面临州和联邦官员的诉讼。</blockquote> Google has built a multibillion-dollar digital empire over the past decade by becoming the primary gatekeeper for apps that are downloaded to smartphones using its Android operating system. It requires apps distributed through its Play Store to use a Google payment system and collects a 15% to 30% service fee on sales.<blockquote>过去十年，谷歌成为使用其Android操作系统下载到智能手机上的应用程序的主要看门人，建立了一个价值数十亿美元的数字帝国。它要求通过其Play Store分发的应用程序使用谷歌支付系统，并对销售收取15%至30%的服务费。</blockquote> The states’ lawsuit challenges Google’s description of Android as an open operating system.<blockquote>各州的诉讼挑战了谷歌将Android描述为开放操作系统的说法。</blockquote> It targets the in-app payment requirement, saying it has allowed Google to monopolize in-app payments on Android phones and charge excessive commissions.<blockquote>它针对的是应用内支付要求，称其允许谷歌垄断安卓手机的应用内支付，并收取过高的佣金。</blockquote> Practices such as those harm consumers by raising the prices of apps and weakening competition between developers that could lead to more secure apps with better features, the suit alleges.<blockquote>诉讼称，此类做法提高了应用程序的价格，削弱了开发者之间的竞争，从而损害了消费者，而开发者之间的竞争可能会带来更安全、功能更好的应用程序。</blockquote> The states also accuse Google of trying to “buy off”Samsung ElectronicsCo., a manufacturer of smartphones.<blockquote>美国还指责谷歌试图“收买”智能手机制造商三星电子公司。</blockquote> Samsung’s Galaxy app store competes with Google Play, and Google offered to compensate Samsung if the latter company would “give up its direct commercial relationships in app distribution with consumers and developers,” the suit alleges. Samsung didn’t respond to a request for comment.<blockquote>诉讼称，三星的Galaxy应用商店与Google Play竞争，如果后者“放弃与消费者和开发者在应用分发方面的直接商业关系”，谷歌将向三星提供补偿。三星没有回应置评请求。</blockquote> The case from the states against Google’s app store follows an antitrust case filed by Epic Games Inc., which alleged that Google acted in an anticompetitive way in operating the store and eventually pulling the company’s “Fortnite” game from its virtual shelves. Epic has a similar lawsuit againstAppleInc.<blockquote>各州针对谷歌应用商店的案件是在Epic Games Inc.提起反垄断诉讼之后提起的，该诉讼指控谷歌在运营商店时以反竞争的方式行事，并最终将该公司的“堡垒之夜”游戏从其虚拟货架上撤下。Epic对苹果公司也有类似的诉讼。</blockquote> In a tweet, Epic Chief Executive Tim Sweeney said Google blocks competition on Android phones. “It’s tragic that the ‘Don’t Be Evil’ company let it come to this,” he wrote.<blockquote>Epic首席执行官蒂姆·斯威尼(Tim Sweeney)在一条推文中表示，谷歌阻止了Android手机上的竞争。“‘不要作恶’公司让事情发展到这一步，这是一个悲剧，”他写道。</blockquote> Thestates began their investigationinto Google about two years ago. Over the course of the following year, attorneys general focused on separate areas of Google’s business with an eye on bringing a single suit against the search company, according to people familiar with the matter.<blockquote>大约两年前，各州开始对谷歌进行调查。据知情人士透露，在接下来的一年里，总检察长们专注于谷歌业务的不同领域，着眼于对这家搜索公司提起单一诉讼。</blockquote> Instead of one case, the states split up across several issues. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes deemed the Play Store anticompetitive last year and planned to bring a suit, but decided to wait until 2021 after Colorado and Texas filed separate suits against Google’s search and ad tech businesses, according to these people.<blockquote>各州在几个问题上出现分歧，而不是一个案例。据这些人士透露，犹他州总检察长肖恩·雷耶斯去年认为Play Store反竞争，并计划提起诉讼，但在科罗拉多州和德克萨斯州分别对谷歌的搜索和广告技术业务提起诉讼后，决定等到2021年。</blockquote> The Justice Department isscrutinizing the business practicesof Apple. The state investigation of Google began sooner, according to people familiar with the matter, and was further along than the Apple probe.<blockquote>司法部正在审查苹果的商业行为。据知情人士透露，州政府对谷歌的调查开始得更早，也比苹果的调查进行得更远。</blockquote> The suit filed Wednesday came days after Google updated its Play Store policy, requiring developers to use a proprietary application format for apps distributed through its store. The company said the change reduces app size to speed downloads for users. The policy update triggered criticism from developers who alleged that it would lock apps into the Play Store and discourage competing distributors.<blockquote>周三提起的诉讼是在谷歌更新其Play Store政策几天后提起的，要求开发者在通过其商店分发的应用程序中使用专有的应用程序格式。该公司表示，这一变化缩小了应用程序的大小，以加快用户的下载速度。这项政策更新引发了开发者的批评，他们声称这将把应用程序锁定在Play Store中，并阻止竞争的分销商。</blockquote> The updated policy influenced the timing of the Utah filing, the people familiar with the matter said.<blockquote>知情人士称，更新后的政策影响了犹他州提交文件的时间。</blockquote> The case could be difficult for states to win. Unlike Apple, which exclusively distributes apps through its store, Android device owners can access apps through other app marketplaces. Proponents of the case argue that the market share of those competitors is dwarfed by Google.<blockquote>各州可能很难胜诉。与通过其商店独家分发应用程序的苹果不同，Android设备所有者可以通过其他应用市场访问应用程序。该案的支持者认为，这些竞争对手的市场份额与谷歌相比相形见绌。</blockquote> The Utah-led lawsuit says that the Play store has a 90% share of app distribution on Android phones and that no competitor has more than a 5% share. It says that Google’s rules restrict direct downloads of apps and only allows so-called sideloading to “maintain its image of ‘openness.’”<blockquote>犹他州主导的诉讼称，Play store在Android手机上拥有90%的应用分发份额，没有竞争对手的份额超过5%。它表示，谷歌的规则限制应用程序的直接下载，只允许所谓的侧装，以“保持其‘开放’的形象”。</blockquote> Google earlier this year reduced its commission on Play store sales,cutting its fees to 15% from 30%on the first $1 million developers earn. Roughly $38.6 billion was spent in the Play store last year, while the App Store generated $72.3 billion, according to Sensor Tower, a firm that tracks the app industry.<blockquote>谷歌今年早些时候降低了Play store销售佣金，将开发者收入前100万美元的费用从30%降至15%。根据追踪应用行业的公司Sensor Tower的数据，去年Play store的支出约为386亿美元，而App Store的收入为723亿美元。</blockquote> The timing of a trial over the Play store will be determined in the months ahead. The Justice Department’s antitrust suit against Google is scheduled for trial in 2023, targeting its dominant search-engine business. Two other ongoing state antitrust lawsuits are set to begin at about the same time.<blockquote>Play store试用的时间将在未来几个月内确定。司法部针对谷歌的反垄断诉讼定于2023年审理，目标是其占主导地位的搜索引擎业务。另外两起正在进行的州反垄断诉讼也将同时开始。</blockquote>\n<div class=\"bt-text\">\n\n\n 来源：<a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/states-target-google-play-store-in-antitrust-suit-11625694096?mod=hp_lead_pos1\">WSJ</a>\n为提升您的阅读体验，我们对本页面进行了排版优化\n\n\n</div>\n</article>\n</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n","type":0,"thumbnail":"","relate_stocks":{"GOOG":"谷歌"},"source_url":"https://www.wsj.com/articles/states-target-google-play-store-in-antitrust-suit-11625694096?mod=hp_lead_pos1","is_english":true,"share_image_url":"https://static.laohu8.com/e9f99090a1c2ed51c021029395664489","article_id":"1150920713","content_text":"Three dozen states and the District of Columbia filed an antitrust lawsuit against AlphabetInc.’s Google on Wednesday, alleging that the company operates an illegal monopoly with its Google Play app store.\nThe bipartisan antitrust suit adds to the company’s mounting legal challenges. Led by the state of Utah and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, it alleges that the company has monopolized the distribution of apps on mobile devices that run the Google-owned Android operating system, blocking competition through contracts, technical barriers and other means.\nIn a blog post, Google said it provides an open operating system in which customers are free to download apps directly from developers’ websites.\n“It’s strange that a group of state attorneys general chose to file a lawsuit attacking a system that provides more openness and choice than others,” wrote Wilson White, senior director of public policy.\nOver the past year, Google has faced lawsuits from state and federal officials over its dominance of search advertising and its ad tech business.\nGoogle has built a multibillion-dollar digital empire over the past decade by becoming the primary gatekeeper for apps that are downloaded to smartphones using its Android operating system. It requires apps distributed through its Play Store to use a Google payment system and collects a 15% to 30% service fee on sales.\nThe states’ lawsuit challenges Google’s description of Android as an open operating system.\nIt targets the in-app payment requirement, saying it has allowed Google to monopolize in-app payments on Android phones and charge excessive commissions.\nPractices such as those harm consumers by raising the prices of apps and weakening competition between developers that could lead to more secure apps with better features, the suit alleges.\nThe states also accuse Google of trying to “buy off”Samsung ElectronicsCo., a manufacturer of smartphones.\nSamsung’s Galaxy app store competes with Google Play, and Google offered to compensate Samsung if the latter company would “give up its direct commercial relationships in app distribution with consumers and developers,” the suit alleges. Samsung didn’t respond to a request for comment.\nThe case from the states against Google’s app store follows an antitrust case filed by Epic Games Inc., which alleged that Google acted in an anticompetitive way in operating the store and eventually pulling the company’s “Fortnite” game from its virtual shelves. Epic has a similar lawsuit againstAppleInc.\nIn a tweet, Epic Chief Executive Tim Sweeney said Google blocks competition on Android phones. “It’s tragic that the ‘Don’t Be Evil’ company let it come to this,” he wrote.\nThestates began their investigationinto Google about two years ago. Over the course of the following year, attorneys general focused on separate areas of Google’s business with an eye on bringing a single suit against the search company, according to people familiar with the matter.\nInstead of one case, the states split up across several issues. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes deemed the Play Store anticompetitive last year and planned to bring a suit, but decided to wait until 2021 after Colorado and Texas filed separate suits against Google’s search and ad tech businesses, according to these people.\nThe Justice Department isscrutinizing the business practicesof Apple. The state investigation of Google began sooner, according to people familiar with the matter, and was further along than the Apple probe.\nThe suit filed Wednesday came days after Google updated its Play Store policy, requiring developers to use a proprietary application format for apps distributed through its store. The company said the change reduces app size to speed downloads for users. The policy update triggered criticism from developers who alleged that it would lock apps into the Play Store and discourage competing distributors.\nThe updated policy influenced the timing of the Utah filing, the people familiar with the matter said.\nThe case could be difficult for states to win. Unlike Apple, which exclusively distributes apps through its store, Android device owners can access apps through other app marketplaces. Proponents of the case argue that the market share of those competitors is dwarfed by Google.\nThe Utah-led lawsuit says that the Play store has a 90% share of app distribution on Android phones and that no competitor has more than a 5% share. It says that Google’s rules restrict direct downloads of apps and only allows so-called sideloading to “maintain its image of ‘openness.’”\nGoogle earlier this year reduced its commission on Play store sales,cutting its fees to 15% from 30%on the first $1 million developers earn. Roughly $38.6 billion was spent in the Play store last year, while the App Store generated $72.3 billion, according to Sensor Tower, a firm that tracks the app industry.\nThe timing of a trial over the Play store will be determined in the months ahead. The Justice Department’s antitrust suit against Google is scheduled for trial in 2023, targeting its dominant search-engine business. Two other ongoing state antitrust lawsuits are set to begin at about the same time.","news_type":1,"symbols_score_info":{"GOOG":0.9}},"isVote":1,"tweetType":1,"viewCount":2062,"commentLimit":10,"likeStatus":false,"favoriteStatus":false,"reportStatus":false,"symbols":[],"verified":2,"subType":0,"readableState":1,"langContent":"EN","currentLanguage":"EN","warmUpFlag":false,"orderFlag":false,"shareable":true,"causeOfNotShareable":"","featuresForAnalytics":[],"commentAndTweetFlag":false,"andRepostAutoSelectedFlag":false,"upFlag":false,"length":5,"xxTargetLangEnum":"ORIG"},"commentList":[],"hasMoreComment":false,"orderType":2}