A recent and potentially transformative U.S. federal court decision — Epic Games, Inc. v. Google LLC, No. 3:20-cv-05671-JD — has ruled that Google’s Play Store policies constitute an illegal monopoly. The jury found that Google abused its dominant position by limiting alternative app distribution and mandating the use of its proprietary billing system, thereby unlawfully restricting competition.
⚖️ Why this matters for Splinterlands and mobile gaming apps more broadly:
This ruling reinforces a legal principle that could significantly impact the mobile app ecosystem: platform holders cannot exploit their dominance to exclude competitors or impose discriminatory terms. While the decision specifically concerns Google and Android, the logic behind it is clearly extendable to Apple’s App Store, where similarly restrictive conditions have long been criticized — particularly regarding NFT integration, external payments, and Web3 features.
📲 What Splinterlands should consider:
In light of this ruling, it is both reasonable and timely for the Splinterlands team to formally request publication on the Apple App Store. Should Apple reject the request or impose disproportionate commercial or technical constraints, the team should reserve the right to conduct a legal assessment. This would help determine whether Apple's behavior could be challenged under antitrust principles, especially if access is denied without clear, fair, and objective justification.
The Epic v. Google decision provides legal and strategic ammunition for game developers to confront structural obstacles in the mobile ecosystem — and Splinterlands may have every reason to press forward while the legal and regulatory landscape is evolving in their favor.
🖊️ Post co-authored by Geppone & Meredorn
📌 Disclaimer: The views expressed here are preliminary and intended for general discussion purposes only. AI was used exclusively for generating the accompanying images.
What would help, if you engage more actively at hive. Just make public comments on peoples post. Start with my posts. There are a lot of SL people typically engage in my post. Comment on them. Get to know them, and make sure they know you.
That is how you stretch your legs and increase your footprint.
Thanks AZ you are always giving me good advice. It is a healthy habit I should adopt. Sometimes time constraints do not allow me to be present asI would like to.
well the net numbers of characters that you have typed on discord so far is certainly worth 100 hive posts :)
Maybe more 😅
And not all of them so interesting
Very true. At the start I shared with Meredorn this topic i posted in tavern channel and then we realized best thing would be share in PEAKD: time it took it is really worth as the article stays available and can be found when it needs. Last but not least, thanks for upvote.
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Thanks for sharing! - @azircon
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Thanks guys for being on top of this issue. We agree with you too! :)
It is great to hear that from you Dave! Let's hope we can soon our game in App store. That would be a real game changer!
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