Jury begins to weigh evidence in Google antitrust trial focused on Android app store payments

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE
AP Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal court jury on Monday began its deliberations in an antitrust trial focused on whether Google’s efforts to profit from its app store for Android smartphones have been illegally gouging consumers and stifling innovation. Before the nine-person jury in San Francisco began weighing the evidence presented during a four-week trial,  the lawyers on the opposing sides of the legal battle spent about two hours making their closing arguments in a case filed by Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game. Epic alleged that Google took various measures to protect a lucrative payment system in its Android app store. It’s an accusation Google fiercely fought.