Epic Games wins antitrust suit vs. Google’s Android app store
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal court jury has decided that Google’s Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of the tech giant.
The unanimous verdict reached Monday came after just three hours of deliberation following a four-week trial revolving around a lucrative payment system within Google’s Play Store. Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, sued Google three years ago, alleging it has been abusing its power to shield Play Store from competition.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney broke into a grin after the verdict and slapped his lawyers on the back and also shook the hand of a Google attorney, whom he thanked for his professional attitude.
Google plans to appeal the verdict, the company said.
Depending on how the judge enforces the jury’s verdict, Google could lose billions of dollars in annual profit generated from its Play Store commissions. The company’s main source of revenue — digital advertising tied mostly to its search engine, Gmail and other services — won’t be directly affected by the trial’s outcome.
Woman who sought abortion leaves Texas for procedure
AUSTIN, Texas — A pregnant Texas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition left the state to get an abortion elsewhere before the state Supreme Court on Monday rejected her unprecedented challenge of one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S.
Kate Cox, 31, had spent nearly a week seeking court permission in Texas to end her pregnancy, but her attorney said she could not wait any longer and left the state. Her baby has a condition known as trisomy 18.
SmileDirectClub shuts down
NEW YORK — SmileDirectClub is shutting down — just months after the struggling teethstraightening company filed for bankruptcy protection. In a Friday announcement, SmileDirectClub said it had made an “incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately.” That leaves existing customers in limbo.
Hasbro cutting 20% of jobs
NEW YORK — Toy maker Hasbro said Monday it is cutting about 1,100 jobs, or 20% of its workforce, as the malaise in the toy business extends through the holiday shopping season.