Google says it will appeal the ruling, which prevents the company from requiring app developers to pay up to 30% commissions.

For three years, Google will have to let third-party Android app stores access the Google Play Store's catalog of apps "so that they may offer the Play Store apps to users," said the injunction issued by US District Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California.

Small developers may be winners after a judge's ruling in the long legal battle between Epic Games and Google. The tech giant must allow consumers more choices on its app store.

Judge James Donato, who presided over the Epic vs. Google lawsuit that declared Google to be operating an illegal monopoly with its Google Play Store on Android last year, issued a final ruling on Monday requiring the company's mobile operating system to open up to third-party app stores for three years. Google says it'll appeal the decision.

A federal judge ruled Monday that Google must open the Play Store to rival third-party Android app stores. U.S. District Judge James Donato ordered the tech giant to allow for the

A federal judge has ordered Google to tear down the digital walls shielding its Android app store from competition.

An injunction was issued after Epic Games won an antitrust lawsuit—the latest legal blow to the search giant.

A US judge on Monday ordered Google to open its Android smartphone operating system to rival app stores, in a fresh legal setback for the tech giant.

Big changes are coming to the Android app ecosystem. Late last year, Google came up short in an antitrust case brought by Epic Games, and now the judge has decided on legal remedies. Not only will Google have to change how it throws money around to promote Google Play,