Google asked courts to pause parts of the Epic Games antitrust injunction, arguing that some requirements could create security risks. The Ninth Circuit rejected its request in September 2025. Google later sought a partial stay from the Supreme Court, but its certiorari petition was dismissed in March 2026 after Google and Epic jointly asked to end the case there. Google says the companies reached a settlement and asked the district court to enter a revised injunction; its policy page describes related changes, but the sources available as of October 4, 2026 do not establish that the district court entered that revised order.
Which emergency stay did Google seek?
There were two distinct stay efforts. The Ninth Circuit denied Google’s request to stay its mandate on September 12, 2025. Google then filed a separate application in the Supreme Court on September 24, asking for a partial stay while it pursued review of the case. The phrase “dangerous ruling” refers to Google’s security argument, not to a court finding that the injunction was dangerous.
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In the Supreme Court application, Google asked to pause paragraphs 11 and 12 of the injunction in full, and paragraphs 9 and 10 to the extent they required linkouts. It sought a ruling before the relevant remedies were due to take effect. The application was a request for relief, not an order that granted a pause. Google’s September 24, 2025 Supreme Court application also said the injunction could affect more than 100 million U.S. users and more than 500,000 app developers. Those figures were Google’s estimates in its filing, not measurements independently established by the court.
What Google said was dangerous—and how the Ninth Circuit responded
Google’s security argument
Google argued that requirements involving third-party app-store catalog access and distribution could make it harder to screen stores and apps, creating safety and security risks. Those were predictions advanced by Google to support a stay; they should not be read as established harms or as the court’s conclusion.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
The appellate court’s explanation
The Ninth Circuit rejected Google’s request to stay the mandate. It said the injunction allowed reasonable security measures and created a Technical Committee to help address technical disputes. The court wrote: “In addition, the Injunction provides for a Technical Committee to assist in resolving technical disputes, including security concerns.” It also found Google’s asserted irreparable harm unfounded in light of trial testimony and concluded that Google had not met the requirements for a stay of mandate. The September 12, 2025 Ninth Circuit order describes a 15-day jury trial with 45 witnesses, followed by further district-court proceedings.
How the case moved from the Ninth Circuit to settlement
| Date | Procedural stage | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2024 | District court injunction | The permanent injunction was issued, according to the Ninth Circuit’s later order. Ninth Circuit order |
| October 26, 2024 | Government filing | The DOJ case page lists a brief by the United States and the FTC on Google’s emergency motion for a partial stay, supporting neither party. DOJ case page |
| September 12, 2025 | Ninth Circuit | The court denied Google’s stay-of-mandate request, upheld the jury’s antitrust finding and the injunction, and modified some compliance deadlines. Ninth Circuit order |
| September 24 and October 27, 2025 | Supreme Court stay application and review petition | Google filed its application for a partial stay on September 24, then filed a petition for a writ of certiorari on October 27. The Supreme Court docket records both filings. Supreme Court docket No. 25-521 |
| March 4, 2026 | Settlement announcement | Google says it reached a new settlement agreement with Epic and that the parties asked the district court to enter a revised modified injunction. Google Play Console Help |
| March 5 and 9, 2026 | Supreme Court petition dismissed | The parties filed a joint stipulation to dismiss Google’s certiorari petition on March 5; the Supreme Court docket records dismissal under Rule 46 on March 9. That was not a Supreme Court decision on the merits of Google’s appeal. Supreme Court docket No. 25-521 |
What the settlement means for Android app distribution
Google’s U.S. developer-policy page describes changes to its policies and app-store programs that it says are tied to the settlement and injunction process. It also gives developers using external content links a December 1, 2026 deadline to report successful downloads and pay applicable service fees. These are details Google publishes about its policy rollout; the policy page is not, by itself, confirmation that the district court entered the requested revised injunction.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
The distinction matters: the Ninth Circuit’s 2025 order remained the appellate court’s ruling, while the companies’ 2026 settlement and their request for a revised order describe a later implementation path. The Supreme Court petition’s dismissal ended that petition after the parties’ stipulation; it did not resolve the appeal’s merits in Google’s favor.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to take away
- Google sought a pause of selected injunction obligations, first at the Ninth Circuit and later through a partial-stay application at the Supreme Court.
- The Ninth Circuit denied the stay request and upheld the jury’s antitrust finding and injunction, while changing certain compliance deadlines.
- Google’s security concerns were arguments supporting its application, not judicial findings that the remedies would cause harm.
- The Supreme Court dismissed the certiorari petition after Google and Epic jointly stipulated to dismissal; Google says the parties separately reached a settlement and asked the district court to revise the injunction.
For contemporaneous settlement coverage, see the Associated Press report from March 2026.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
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