U.S. Court of Appeals Hands Epic Games Yet Another Victory Against Google

On Friday, a U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously denied Google’s emergency request to pause the Play Store reforms it must make on Android. Barring intervention from the Supreme Court, this case is over, and Google must crack open its mobile apps platform to Epic Games and others.

“Google’s Motion for a Stay of Permanent Injunction Pending Google’s Forthcoming Petitions for Rehearing and, if Necessary, Certiorari [a review of the court’s original ruling] is denied,” the ruling reads. “The request for a stay pending a petition for rehearing is moot because the court issued an administrative stay pending [a] decision on the petition for rehearing and the court denied that petition on September 12, 2025.”

Epic v. Google was decided in Epic Games’ favor in December 2023 and Judge James Donato issued his final ruling in October 2024, demanding that Google open up its Play Store to rivals, allow developers to communicate with their customers and use rival in-app payment systems, and stop requiring hardware makers to bundle the Play Store on Android devices, among other changes. Google appealed the verdict, of course, but it lost that appeal in July.

That should have been the end of that, but Google filed an emergency motion asking a U.S. Court of Appeals to pause its legal requirements so that it could petition the Supreme Court. That request was just denied as well, and emphatically.

“Our unanimous panel upheld the jury’s finding of antitrust liability and the district court’s Injunction,” the ruling notes. “Google has not met the requirements under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 41(d) regarding a meritorious petition for certiorari or the significant possibility of reversal. In addition, Google’s claim for irreparable harm is unfounded in light of trial testimony. Finally, we are unpersuaded by Google’s claim that market confusion, monetary expenditures, and national security support a claim of irreparable harm.”

Google is now required to meet the legal requirements of Judge Donato’s remedy demands within 30 days of the Friday ruling, assuming that the Supreme Court doesn’t step in.

“Now Google Play has 30 days to free ALL DEVELOPERS to offer competing payments in the USA—as Apple is required to do—free of scare screens, junk fees, and restrictions!” Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney tweeted. “With super strong precedent in Epic v. Apple, there’s no room for malicious compliance this time.”

“We are disappointed with the Ninth Circuit’s decision and we believe the injunction will undermine the security and privacy of users,” a Google statement reads. “We are reviewing our options for appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. Protecting users and the Android ecosystem remains our top priority.”