For three years, Google will have to let third-party Android app stores access the Google Play Store's catalog of apps "so that they may offer the Play Store apps to users," said the injunction issued by US District Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California.

Small developers may be winners after a judge's ruling in the long legal battle between Epic Games and Google. The tech giant must allow consumers more choices on its app store.

Judge James Donato, who presided over the Epic vs. Google lawsuit that declared Google to be operating an illegal monopoly with its Google Play Store on Android last year, issued a final ruling on Monday requiring the company's mobile operating system to open up to third-party app stores for three years.