Google loses appeal in suit filed by 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games as app store verdict upheld
The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected claims from Google that the trial judge made legal errors in the antitrust case that unfairly benefited 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games, which filed the lawsuit in 2020.
Epic accused Google of monopolizing how consumers access apps on Android devices and pay for transactions within apps.
Advertisement
'Fortnite' maker Epic Games accused Google of monopolizing how consumers access apps on Android devices and pay for transactions within apps.
AFP via Getty Images
The Cary, North Carolina-based company convinced a San Francisco jury in 2023 that Google illegally stifled competition.
US District Judge James Donato in San Francisco ordered Google in October to restore competition by allowing users to download rival app stores within its Play store and by making Play's app catalog available to those competitors, among other reforms.
Donato's order was on hold pending the outcome of the 9th Circuit appeal.
Advertisement
The court's decision can be appealed to the US Supreme Court.
Google told the appeals court that the tech company's Play store competes with Apple's App Store, and that Donato unfairly barred Google from making that point to contest Epic's antitrust claims.
The tech giant also argued that a jury should never have heard Epic's lawsuit because it sought to enjoin Google's conduct — a request normally decided by a judge — and not collect damages.
Advertisement
Epic has defended the verdict and court injunction, telling the 9th Circuit judges that the Android app market has been 'suffering under anti-competitive behavior for the better part of a decade.'
Google told the appeals court that the tech company's Play store competes with Apple's App Store, and that the judge unfairly barred Google from making that point to contest Epic's antitrust claims.
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
In the trial court and in the appeal, Epic disputed arguments by Google that changes to its app business ordered by the court would harm user privacy and security.
Microsoft filed a brief backing Epic, as did the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission.
Advertisement
Epic separately is battling Apple over a US judge's order requiring the iPhone maker to give developers greater freedom to steer consumers to make purchases outside its App Store.
Apple has appealed a ruling that said it violated a prior injunction in a lawsuit that Epic filed in 2020.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Alphabet's CapitalG, Nvidia in talks to fund Vast Data at up to $30 billion valuation, sources say
By Krystal Hu, Max A. Cherney and Milana Vinn NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Alphabet's growth-stage venture arm CapitalG and Nvidia are in talks to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure provider Vast Data in a new funding round that could value the startup as high as $30 billion, two sources said. The startup is raising several billion dollars from tech giants, private equity and venture capital investors, which could make it one of the most valuable AI startups, the two sources with knowledge of the matter said, as companies building the backbone for the AI boom come into sharper focus. CapitalG and existing backer Nvidia are in discussions to participate in the round, which could close in the next few weeks, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to speak on private matters. New York-headquartered Vast Data develops storage technology specifically designed for large AI data centers, enabling efficient data movement between graphics processors (GPUs) made by the likes of Nvidia. Its clients include companies such as Elon Musk's xAI and CoreWeave, and its value in the AI supply chain makes it an attractive acquisition target, bankers and analysts said. Nvidia declined to comment, while Vast Data and CapitalG did not respond to requests for comment. TechCrunch earlier reported Vast Data's fundraising efforts, but the valuation of up to $30 billion and the expected involvement of CapitalG and Nvidia have not been reported previously. Vast Data CEO Renen Halak has said the company is free cash flow positive. The company earned $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by January 2025, with a strong backlog of orders and projections to grow ARR to $600 million next year, according to a separate source familiar with its financials. The company has raised roughly $380 million to date, and its last funding round in 2023 valued it at $9.1 billion. Vast Data has said it would consider an initial public offering at the right time. While no listing is imminent, according to another source familiar with the matter, investors and bankers view the data infrastructure firm as a likely IPO candidate. Vast Data last year hired Amy Shapero, its first chief financial officer, who was previously in the same role at publicly listed e-commerce giant Shopify, in a move that could signal preparations for an IPO. Mergers and acquisitions activity has also been heating up in the sector, and Nvidia has been acquiring companies that add complementary software and hardware products beyond its flagship GPUs. In 2020, it bought networking chip and cable maker Mellanox, which has helped Nvidia build integrated systems featuring its latest Blackwell chips. It has also acquired software companies such as Run:ai, which helps engineers optimize data center AI hardware. Vast Data's storage architecture is based on a system of flash storage devices and other off-the-shelf hardware, combined with its specialized software for data access and movement. The company says adopting its technology can reduce the cost of building and running large AI models. Several companies, such as Weka and DDN, are pursuing similar efforts, but analysts and industry executives say Vast Data's technology is more mature than that of its rivals. Shares of Nvidia slumped 2.3% and Alphabet stock sunk 1.4% during regular trading on Friday.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
你與 ChatGPT 的對話竟然可 Google 得到？OpenAI：功能已撤回
ChatGPT AI 已成許多人日常生活與工作的必備工具，例如找資料找建議，問食譜，甚至是修飾電郵、履歷等，因此難免會向 AI 透露不同的個人資料。不過有機會透露個資的話要小心，因最近 OpenAI 就被爆出用戶與 AI 的對話內容，原來可經 Goolge 搜尋得到。 廣告 廣告 近日 TechCrunch 報導有 ChatGPT 用戶發現可透過 Google 或 Bing 搜尋引擎，輸入指定ChatGPT的網域名稱（ ChatGPT 的對話，由於不少人都會利用 ChatGPT 去修飾履歷，因此個人資料就有機會洩漏。報導中就到其中一個例子是一名用戶要求 ChatGPT 幫忙修飾履歷以方便申請工作，而且從對話紀錄中其實可找出該名用戶的 LinkedIn 資料。這個漏洞被揭露後，OpenAI 指出聊天紀錄之所以被搜尋得到，是一項實驗的一部分，測試如何讓用戶更容易分享有用的對話，但同時仍保有控制權。其實 ChatGPT 的對話內容預設是不公開，除非用戶自行打開分享功能，而且是因為 Google 對公開的連結其索引規範而引致。不過為了安全起見，OpenAI 已立刻撤回這項功能。 更多內容： 緊貼最新科技資訊、網購優惠，追隨 Yahoo Tech 各大社交平台！ 🎉📱 Tech Facebook： 廣告 廣告 🎉📱 Tech Instagram： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 社群： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 頻道： 🎉📱 Tech Telegram 頻道：
Time Business News
6 hours ago
- Time Business News
Types of SEO in Digital Marketing
Ever wondered why some websites show up first when you Google something, while others are buried on page 10? You're not the only one. Most people don't know SEO comes in several flavors (not just one). In fact, there are multiple types of SEO and each one matters in different ways. By the end of this post, you'll know exactly which SEO strategies make a real difference for your business. We'll break down the types, explain why they matter, and show you what to focus on to build a strategy that actually works. On-page SEO is everything you can control directly on your website. Think of it like dressing up your content to make a great impression on search engines and visitors. What to focus on: Title tags and meta descriptions These lines are your site's first impression in search results. Clear, relevant titles and descriptions help people and Google understand what the page is about. These lines are your site's first impression in search results. Clear, relevant titles and descriptions help people and Google understand what the page is about. Keyword research and content optimization Use the actual words your customers are typing in. But avoid stuffing. Write naturally and answer real questions. Use the actual words your customers are typing in. But avoid stuffing. Write naturally and answer real questions. Internal linking Link to relevant pages within your site. This helps visitors explore more and helps search engines understand how your content fits together. Link to relevant pages within your site. This helps visitors explore more and helps search engines understand how your content fits together. Image optimization and alt text Make sure images load quickly and include descriptive alt text so search engines know what they show. Make sure images load quickly and include descriptive alt text so search engines know what they show. Schema markup This technical layer helps Google understand your content like whether it's a recipe, review, or event. It increases your chances of appearing in rich snippets. Quick wins: Look at your top pages and optimize the title and meta description. Add one or two internal links per page. Check image size and alt text. Off-page SEO covers everything that happens outside your website but still affects how Google sees you. It's like having other people vouch for your expertise. What to focus on: Backlink building Quality matters more than quantity. Links from respected sites show Google that others trust your content. Quality matters more than quantity. Links from respected sites show Google that others trust your content. Social media mentions While they don't directly improve rankings, mentions on platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook bring credibility and traffic. While they don't directly improve rankings, mentions on platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook bring credibility and traffic. Brand mentions and digital PR Getting talked about on news sites, blogs, or local listings helps build authority even without a direct link. Getting talked about on news sites, blogs, or local listings helps build authority even without a direct link. Guest posting Publishing content on other sites in your niche helps expose your brand and earn valuable backlinks. Publishing content on other sites in your niche helps expose your brand and earn valuable backlinks. Reputation management Monitor reviews, respond professionally, and fix negative feedback wherever it appears online. Common mistakes: Don't buy cheap backlinks. Avoid spammy directories or unrelated forums and never use link farms as that's the fastest route to penalties. Technical SEO makes sure search engines can find and read your site properly. Even the best content can't rank if Google can't access it. What to focus on: Site speed optimization Slow pages frustrate visitors and lower rankings. Slow pages frustrate visitors and lower rankings. Mobile-friendliness Search now happens mostly on phones. Your site must work well on small screens. Search now happens mostly on phones. Your site must work well on small screens. SSL certificate (HTTPS) Secure sites get bonus trust and better rankings. Secure sites get bonus trust and better rankings. XML sitemap and These files help search engines understand what's on your site and what to ignore. These files help search engines understand what's on your site and what to ignore. Fixing crawl errors and broken links Broken pages or inaccessible content harm your visibility. 2025 update: As AI tools grow smarter, technical SEO has become more important. Algorithms now favor fast, well-structured, error-free sites that offer a great experience. Local SEO helps businesses that serve customers in specific regions or have a physical presence (like stores or restaurants). It ensures you show up when people nearby search for what you offer. Key strategies for local SEO: Optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate address, phone number, hours, and images. Keep it updated. with accurate address, phone number, hours, and images. Keep it updated. Secure listings in local directories and citation sites. Encourage and manage customer reviews as responding to them boosts credibility. Optimize for 'near me' searches by including neighborhood names and local terms. Example: A small coffee shop can outrank Starbucks in local searches simply by properly managing its Google Business Profile, earning positive reviews, and including location-based keywords on its site. E-commerce SEO focuses on helping product pages rank well and attract customers who are ready to buy. What matters most: Optimize each product page with clear titles, bullet-point descriptions, images, and genuine (legit) customer reviews. with clear titles, bullet-point descriptions, images, and genuine (legit) customer reviews. Build a clean category structure so shoppers and search engines can easily navigate. so shoppers and search engines can easily navigate. Encourage user-generated content . Reviews build trust and also help boost your rankings. . Reviews build trust and also help boost your rankings. Use shopping schema markup to display your products with prices and images directly in search results. Pro tip: A good product description doesn't just list features, it explains what the product is and how it helps your target audience. Avoid copying manufacturer text. Unique, helpful content performs better and builds trust. When your business targets audiences in different countries or languages, international SEO helps ensure the right version of your site is shown to the right people. Key elements: Use hreflang tags to tell search engines which language or country version of a page to display. to tell search engines which language or country version of a page to display. Create localized content , not just direct translations. , not just direct translations. Choose between country-specific domains (like . or subdirectories (/uk/) based on your strategy. Common pitfall: Simply translating content doesn't convert. Adapting culture, tone, and currency matters just as much. In 2025, video is no longer optional. It's central to SEO strategy. Tactics to optimize video content: Optimize your YouTube titles, descriptions, and tags . . Submit video sitemaps to help search engines index your content. to help search engines index your content. Include transcripts or captions for accessibility and better keyword coverage. for accessibility and better keyword coverage. Design strong thumbnails to increase click-through rates. to increase click-through rates. Use video structured data to get your video featured directly in Google search results. Many sites miss out by ignoring image SEO even though images bring traffic and help with user experience. Essentials to cover: Use clear, descriptive alt text that includes the keyword when possible. that includes the keyword when possible. Name image files meaningfully (e.g. instead of IMG_123.jpg). Compress images for faster load times. Use structured data for images where possible (e.g. product markup or recipe photos). With voice search questions changing how people interact online, voice SEO becomes essential especially for hands-free or on-the-go users. What to focus on: Write content designed to win featured snippets , which often power voice answers. , which often power voice answers. Use FAQ-style layouts to match natural, question-based queries people use when speaking. to match natural, question-based queries people use when speaking. Focus on local voice searches, like 'where's the nearest coffee shop,' when applicable to your business. Content is where everything comes together. You can have a fast site, great backlinks, and perfect technical SEO but if your content doesn't help people, none of that matters. So, what is Content SEO? It's about creating pages, blog posts, guides, and resources that both your audience and search engines find valuable. Here's what that looks like: Search intent matching: You're answering the actual question behind someone's search, not just targeting a keyword. You're answering the actual question behind someone's search, not just targeting a keyword. Topic authority: Cover your subject well, don't just skim the surface. Show that you know your stuff. Cover your subject well, don't just skim the surface. Show that you know your stuff. Content depth: Go beyond the basics. Add helpful examples, tips, and real-world insight. Go beyond the basics. Add helpful examples, tips, and real-world insight. User engagement: Are people spending time on your content? Are they scrolling, clicking, and coming back? 2025 update: Long-form content that's focused, relevant, and helpful is winning more often than short, keyword-stuffed posts. Google's smarter now. It favors pages that actually solve problems . Whether you're writing product guides, blog posts, or FAQ pages, think of content as your opportunity to serve. Not sell. That's how you win trust, traffic, and rankings. There's more than one way to 'do' SEO. But not all methods are created equal. Some help you grow sustainably, while others might give you a quick win but risk getting you blacklisted. This is SEO done the right way. You follow Google's rules, focus on quality, and earn your rankings over time. You build long-term visibility without worrying about penalties or sudden drops. Examples of white-hat strategies: Writing genuinely helpful content Building backlinks through guest posting or PR Making your site fast, accessible, and mobile-friendly Using schema markup and internal linking properly Trying to trick search engines. It might work for a little while but when you get caught, the fallout is brutal. One Google update can wipe out all your traffic. And getting penalized is hard to recover from. Common black-hat tactics: Keyword stuffing (repeating the same word endlessly) Buying backlinks from shady sources Cloaking (showing one thing to Google, another to users) Using hidden text or links Tactics that aren't clearly against the rules but they're definitely pushing boundaries. Think of it as the grey area between smart and sneaky. What's allowed today might be penalized tomorrow. Search engines evolve, and gray-hat strategies can become black-hat overnight. Our take? If you care about long-term growth and building real trust, stick with white-hat methods. SEO is already competitive so you don't want to make it harder by taking risky shortcuts. SEO doesn't stand still and 2025 is already showing us how fast things can shift. If you want to stay ahead, you'll need to keep your strategy flexible. Here are two major trends worth paying attention to: More people are skipping traditional search altogether. Instead, they're turning to AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews to get instant answers. What does that mean for your business? You're no longer just optimizing for Google but you're also optimizing for how AI tools pull and display information. Actionable tip: Create content that directly answers real questions. Think clear, concise, and complete. If your page can serve as a reliable answer, AI engines are more likely to pull it in. Not every search ends in a click anymore. Google often shows the answer right there on the results page. This includes: Featured snippets (those boxes at the top) Knowledge panels Maps results People Also Ask dropdowns If you're not ranking in those spots, you may not get seen even if you're technically 'on the first page.' How to adjust your strategy: Optimize for snippets by answering key questions early in your content Use proper formatting (like bullet points or tables) Include schema markup so Google understands your content better Pro tip: Don't obsess over click-through rates alone. Visibility and branding still matter even when users don't click. With so many types of SEO out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But you don't need all of them which makes it easier for you to just shortlist the one(s) that are right ones for your goals. Start with a few basic questions: What kind of business are you running? (Local store, online shop, service-based, content creator?) (Local store, online shop, service-based, content creator?) Who are you trying to reach? (Local customers, international buyers, people on YouTube?) (Local customers, international buyers, people on YouTube?) What's your main goal? (More traffic, more sales, more visibility?) (More traffic, more sales, more visibility?) What resources do you have? (In-house team? Budget for tools or freelancers?) Business Type SEO Types to Focus On Any business (general) On-page, off-page, technical Local businesses Add Local SEO Online stores Add E-commerce SEO Content creators/bloggers Add Content SEO, Video SEO, Image SEO Going global Add International SEO No matter what kind of business you have, start with a solid foundation. Get your website healthy, create useful content, and build trust over time. From there, you can layer on more specialized strategies depending on your needs. Now that you understand the different types of SEO, you might be thinking, 'Okay, where do I actually begin?' You don't need to do everything at once. Here's a clear starting point that works for most businesses: Technical SEO Audit This is your foundation. Fix broken links, slow loading pages, and mobile issues. A healthy site is step one. On-Page Optimization Go through your main pages. Update your titles, meta descriptions, and make sure your content matches what your audience is searching for. Local SEO Setup (if applicable) Got a physical location or local service? Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile and get listed in local directories. Content Strategy Plan what content to create next. Focus on topics your customers care about and questions they actually ask. Link Building Start small. Reach out to industry partners, local directories, or write guest blogs to build credibility. You don't need to spend a fortune to get going. Here's a mix of free and paid tools to help: Need Free Tools Paid Tools (Worth It) Site audit Google Search Console, Screaming Frog Ahrefs, SEMrush, Sitebulb Keyword research Google Trends, AnswerThePublic Ubersuggest, Keywords Everywhere Local SEO Google Business Profile BrightLocal, Moz Local Content ideas AlsoAsked, Reddit Surfer SEO, Clearscope Backlink tracking Ahrefs (free tier) Ahrefs, SEMrush, BuzzSumo Impressions & Clicks → Use Google Search Console → Use Google Search Console Traffic Growth → Google Analytics → Google Analytics Keyword Rankings → Tools like Ubersuggest or SERPWatcher → Tools like Ubersuggest or SERPWatcher Backlinks → Ahrefs or SEMrush Don't just focus on measuring rankings but try to track what actually drives leads, calls, or sales . SEO is no longer just a nice-to-have. In 2025, its driving 53% of all website traffic, making it one of the most reliable ways to grow your business without constantly spending on ads. For every dollar businesses spend on SEO, they earn an average return of $7.48, with top-performing sectors like real estate and financial services seeing ROI above 1,000%. Even amid the rise of AI and zero-click searches, nearly 95% of clicks still happen on the first page of results and long-form content consistently gets more shares and backlinks. In plain terms: invest in helpful, well-structured content and strong fundamentals now, and you'll build consistent traffic and trust over time. Start with just two or three SEO types that match your goals and you'll be planting seeds for lasting growth. Run a technical SEO audit today. It's the best first step you can take. If you need expert support, consider partnering with a professional SEO company like Plyxio that offers global digital marketing solutions. Type of SEO Best For Time to See Results Difficulty Level Key Metric to Track On-Page SEO All businesses 1–2 months Easy Organic clicks Off-Page SEO Any business needing authority 3–6 months Medium Backlink growth Technical SEO Everyone 1–3 weeks (after fixes) Medium Site speed, crawlability Local SEO Brick-and-mortar/local services 2–4 weeks Easy Map rankings, reviews E-commerce SEO Online stores 3–6 months Medium–Hard Product page rankings International SEO Global audiences 3–6+ months Hard Country-specific traffic Video SEO Content creators, educators 2–4 weeks Medium Video views, watch time Image SEO Visual-heavy businesses 1–2 months Easy Image search traffic Voice SEO Service providers, local biz 3–6 months Medium Featured snippet presence Content SEO Blogs, info sites, educators 2–4 months Medium Engagement, time on page TIME BUSINESS NEWS
