According to iFast Financial App, a federal judge in California has temporarily suspended the order that required Google (GOOGL.US) to revamp its Android app store Google Play by November 1st. The order was originally intended to provide consumers with more software download choices. Judge James Donato in the USA made this decision after Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google. Google argued that Donato's injunction on October 7th would harm the company's interests and pose significant security, protection, and privacy risks to the Android ecosystem.

Donato has postponed the injunction to allow the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the USA to consider Google's request to suspend the judge's order. However, Donato rejected Google's separate request to stay the execution of the order during a broader appeal. Google welcomed this decision and stated in a declaration that they were pleased to see the district court temporarily suspend the implementation of the dangerous relief measures requested by Epic because the appeals court is considering Google's request.

Epic stated in a declaration that Donato's ruling is merely a procedural step and pointed out that the court has clearly stated that Google's appeal is unfounded, while also rejecting its request to delay opening Android devices to competitors during the appeal. Epic also accused Google of using intimidation and unsubstantiated security threats to protect its control over Android devices and continue to charge high fees.

In the Epic Games lawsuit, a jury ruled last year that Google illegally monopolized the way consumers download applications on Android devices and how they make in-app transactions. The judge adopted many of the measures suggested by the jury's ruling in his order, including requiring Google to allow users to download competing third-party Android app platforms or stores on Play, and to allow the use of competitive in-app payment methods. The order also prohibits Google from paying device manufacturers to pre-install its app store and from sharing revenue generated from Play Store with other app distributors.

Google has appealed the jury's antitrust ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but has not yet presented antitrust arguments to the appellate court. The company previously stated that it cannot be considered a monopolist because Google Play and the Apple App Store are direct competitors, and Donato's injunction would illegally force Google to do business with its competitors.