In the ongoing antitrust trial against Google's Play Store, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney testified on Monday, characterizing Google as an aggressive bully utilizing questionable tactics to safeguard its predatory payment system. Sweeney's testimony aimed to challenge Google's practices in the Android app market, with Epic Games alleging illegal price-gouging through commissions ranging from 15% to 30% on in-app transactions.
During his over two-hour testimony in San Francisco, Sweeney depicted Google as a monopolistic entity motivated by greed. This followed Google CEO Sundar Pichai's defense of the Play Store in the previous week before a 10-member jury. The trial is part of a broader legal challenge against Google, valued at $1.7 trillion, facing threats of breakup due to antitrust concerns.
While Sweeney sought to portray Google as a monopolistic force, Google's attorney, Jonathan Kravis, aimed to shift the narrative. Kravis' cross-examination attempted to depict Sweeney as an executive primarily interested in bypassing commission systems to boost his company's profits.
Epic Games contends that Google engaged in illegal price-gouging by collecting substantial commissions on digital transactions. In contrast to Apple's closed ecosystem, Google allows competition to the Play Store. Epic attempted this approach by releasing Fortnite for Android on its own website in 2018.
Sweeney recalled a meeting at Google's headquarters where the company attempted to persuade Epic to release Fortnite on the Play Store, offering various financial incentives that Sweeney rejected. He described the proposed deals as "crooked arrangements" designed to discourage competition.
Documents presented during the trial showed Google's attempt to dissuade video game maker Activision Blizzard from competing against the Play Store with a $360 million package. After rejecting Google's offers, Epic faced challenges distributing Fortnite independently, citing Google's obstructive actions.
Epic eventually released Fortnite on the Play Store in 2020, while simultaneously implementing an alternative payment option as part of "Project Liberty." This led to antitrust lawsuits after Google and Apple blocked the new payment method.
Sweeney framed the legal action as a crusade on behalf of all game makers, emphasizing the existential importance of challenging Google's practices. Google's lawyer highlighted Epic's acceptance of similar commissions on other gaming platforms without complaint, raising questions about the consistency of Epic's stance.
Sweeney asserted that the goal of the trial is for the jury to find Google in violation of the law, leading to corrective measures to stop the alleged anticompetitive practices.
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