Google’s proposed settlement with Epic Games Inc in a long-running antitrust dispute over how the tech giant operates its mobile app store drew deep skepticism from a federal judge, who repeatedly questioned if it was a “sweetheart deal” for the two companies at the expense of the broader market.
US District Judge James Donato, who has been overseeing the antitrust case, said during a hearing Thursday that he was “taken aback” by parts of the deal between Epic and Alphabet Inc’s Google. Terms haven’t been disclosed, but testimony in court indicated they include a software license, service agreement, an exploratory partnership and attorneys fees.
Donato said in November,…