Tim Sweeney signed away his right to criticize Google until 2032
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney may be one of the most outspoken people in the history of the world. He fought two of the world’s most valuable and powerful companies almost to the United States Supreme Court, calling them names over and over: “crooked,” “deceptive,” “incredibly devious,” calling Android a “fake open platform,” calling both companies “gangster-style corporations that will do anything they think they can get away with,” telling me that Google’s Project Hug was “a stunningly corrupt effort on a grand scale.”
On March 3, he not only waived Epic’s right to sue and disparage the company, but he also waived his right to advocate for any future changes in Google’s app store policies. He can’t criticize Google’s App Store practices. In fact, he should congratulate them.
The contract states that “Epic believes that the Google and Android platforms, with the modifications made in this term sheet, are pro-competitive and a model for app store and platform operations, and will make good faith efforts to advocate for the same.”
He may even have to appear in other courts around the world to defend this deal with Google, and Google can ensure that its public statements now support the deal.
You can take a look at the relevant sections of the term sheet above and at Sweeney’s digital signature. According to the signed document, it will expire five years after Google makes the last of its changes to its service fees. Google plans to do this no later than September 30, 2027, so Sweeney may not be able to speak on Google’s app store until September 2032.
