There is so much in this issue of WTF now?! Google announced global changes to the Play Store in the wake of the US Epic v Google antitrust case. Also on app and game stores: the UK music collecting society is pursuing Steam for music in downloaded and streamed games and PlayStation is maybe experimenting with dynamic pricing.
Also related to an antitrust case, the Live Nation–Ticketmaster antitrust case that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and a number of US states initiated has seen a surprise settlement between Live Nation and the DOJ. The deal may avoid a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster but it looks like at least 28 states are going to continue pursuing the companies.
There were five significant AI acquisitions this week or last week, including purchases by Meta, OpenAI, Netflix, Accenture and MyFitnessPal. They add to the numerous other acquisitions that have taken place since the start of the year.
The ethical concerns about AI and military uses continues with Crikey‘s reporting on one of Palantir’s contracts with the Australian Department of Defence. Their breakdown of the (not redacted) terms offers a rare glimpse into the arrangement between the controversial data analytics company.
Also: Katy Perry lost a trade mark dispute with an Australian fashion designer, La Trobe University has appointed a "Pro Vice-Chancellor (Artificial Intelligence) and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer" and the Oversight Board says Meta can do more to address deceptive AI content, especially during crisis or conflict.
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What’s been going on?
Here's WTF happened this week:
Epic v Google prompts global Play Store changes
Epic Games and Google have settled their app store disputes, prompting a worldwide raft of changes to the Google Play Store, including lowering fees, better supporting other payment options, reducing friction for third-party app stores and incentivising cross-form factor app experiences.
It seems Epic Games and Google have buried the app store monopoly hatchet with Google announcing 'a new era for choice and openness' on the Google Play Store and Epic issued a news article saying it has settled its disputes with Google worldwide, including here in Australia. Although a final settlement in the US Epic v Google case has not been approved yet, Google has decided to start implmementing changes to the Google Play Store anyway.
