Google asks to postpone the US judge’s decision regarding the App Store

Google has asked a federal judge in California to put on hold a sweeping court order requiring the company to open its Play Store to more competition.

In a lawsuit Friday evening, Google said the injunction issued by U.S. District Judge James Donato, which takes effect on November 1, would harm the company and create “serious security and privacy risks to the Android ecosystem.”

The Alphabet-owned tech giant asked Donato to put the order on hold while he appeals.

A judge issued a preliminary injunction on October 7 in a case brought by “Fortnite” maker Epic Games. Epic Games convinced a federal jury last year that Google illegally monopolizes the way consumers download apps on Android devices and how they pay for in-app transactions.

The judge's order states that Google must allow users to download from competing third-party Android app platforms or stores and no longer prohibit the use of competing in-app payment methods. It also prohibits Google from paying device manufacturers for pre-installation of its App Store and from sharing Play Store revenues with other app distributors.

If Donato denies Google's request to stay the injunction, the company could ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to do so while appealing the original jury's antitrust ruling.

Google filed its appeal with the Ninth Circuit on Thursday. The appeals court is expected to consider and rule on Google's challenge to Donato's order.