Google is grappling with a significant challenge after Epic Games won its antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant for a second time. The ruling has placed the entire Android ecosystem at risk, according to Google’s management.

The situation unfolded when a U.S. court declared the Google Play Store a monopoly. In response, Google admitted it now has just 14 days to begin dismantling what’s been deemed an “illegal monopoly,” making swift changes to its business practices with both app developers and smartphone manufacturers.

Initially, the court ruled that Google must stop requiring app developers to use Google Play Billing and allow developers to freely direct users to alternative payment platforms.

However, implementing these changes will take time—something Google may not have.

As for the immediate future, don’t expect to see the Epic Games Store or Microsoft’s Xbox Store within Google Play right away. However, there is a possibility they could appear down the line. Similarly, Google won’t be compelled to share its entire app catalog with rival stores.

In a positive turn for Google, the company successfully filed for an emergency stay on Saturday morning, granting them at least three more weeks before it must adjust its Android app store policies.

In the emergency stay request, Google highlighted its concerns, arguing that the court’s ruling could “significantly impact” millions of users and over 500,000 developers. Google claims that implementing the required changes in just 14 days would put both users and developers at risk and jeopardize the Android ecosystem.

The specific rulings that are most problematic for Google include:

Google Play Billing: Google can no longer force app developers to use Google Play Billing.

Payment Alternatives: Developers can inform users about alternative payment methods within the Play Store.

App Distribution: Developers are now free to link users to external sites to download their apps.

Pricing Autonomy: Developers can set their own prices for apps and services.

Exclusivity Deals: Google can no longer offer financial incentives or exclusive deals to device manufacturers, carriers, or developers in exchange for pre-installing or exclusively offering the Google Play Store.

These remedies are in line with similar changes Epic achieved in its high-profile antitrust case against Apple.

The legal battle is rooted in what’s known as “anti-steering rules,” which courts have now ruled unfairly limit developers’ ability to compete in a free market.

Here’s a summary of the key provisions outlined in Judge Donato’s injunction:

Revenue Sharing Restrictions (4-7): Google cannot share revenue with any entity planning to launch an Android app store or distribution platform for three years, until November 1, 2027.

App Launch Agreements (5-6): Google cannot require developers to agree to exclusive deals with the Play Store or prevent them from launching different versions of their apps on third-party platforms.

Pre-installation & OEM Deals (7): Google must stop using payments or services as leverage to force manufacturers or carriers to pre-install the Play Store.

Billing Independence (9): Google can no longer mandate the use of Google Play Billing for apps on the Play Store, nor can it prohibit alternative payment methods or prevent developers from informing users of these alternatives.

App Store Linking (10): Developers can link to other stores and promote app downloads outside the Play Store.

Technical Committee (13): Epic and Google are tasked with creating a three-person Technical Committee to help resolve technical issues related to these changes.

While these changes may take years to fully implement, they represent a significant blow to Google’s monopoly in the Android app distribution space.

The three-judge Ninth Circuit panel denied Google’s earlier motion for a stay, and affirmed that all parts of Judge Donato’s permanent injunction were valid and appropriate, but it still decided to grant this emergency stay while Google gets the chance to argue for a longer stay while a higher court considers the case. Google has signaled that it could appeal to both the full Ninth Circuit, and to the Supreme Court.