This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, Financials) is facing a new antitrust lawsuit after rival app store Aptoide S.A. accused the company of monopolizing Android app distribution and billing systems.
Aptoide says that Google has used its power to hinder competition by making it harder for developers to get to its own Google Play ecosystem. The company argued that Google’s “restrictive practices” kept it from offering better prices and services.
The action, which was filed in U.S. federal court, asks for damages and asks that the activity stop. Aptoide also talked about problems including not being able to get to important apps and developers, which it believes has made it harder for it to compete.
The case is one more legal problem for Google. The corporation has already been found guilty of breaking antitrust laws by courts that ordered it to restructure elements of its operation. This was because of its search dominance and app store tactics.
For investors, this development shows that there are still regulatory dangers for Big Tech. The main question today is whether more legal pressure could cause more changes in Google’s app ecosystem or affect how it makes money.
