Google Judge Unconvinced Epic Games Pact Good for Consumers (1)

A federal judge said he is withholding approval of Google’s antitrust settlement with Epic Games Inc. until he is satisfied the pact over mobile app distribution benefits consumers and boosts competition.

US District Judge James Donato said Thursday he wants to look closer at the terms of a deal the companies disclosed this week that they said will improve the distribution and monetization of apps on Android phones.

In a separate decision Donato tentatively approved a $700 million settlement between a bipartisan group of state attorneys general and Google that resolves similar claims that the company abuses its market power ...