Epic Games Accuses Google and Samsung

Epic Games Accuses Google and Samsung

Blog Article

Fortnite developer Epic Games has escalated its battle against tech giants, suing both Google and Samsung over alleged anti-competitive behavior. The lawsuit centers on the companies’ actions to suppress third-party app stores and maintain dominance over the app marketplace, specifically through the implementation of Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature. Epic claims this feature, which prevents alternative app stores from being easily installed on Samsung devices, was a coordinated move between the two companies to stifle competition.

At the core of the dispute is Epic’s assertion that Google, which already holds a dominant position in the Android app distribution market, has illegally leveraged its partnership with Samsung to strengthen its control over app installations. According to Epic, Samsung’s Auto Blocker ensures that users face a cumbersome process when attempting to install apps from outside Google Play, such as the Epic Games Store. This move, Epic argues, violates antitrust laws by limiting consumer choice and reinforcing Google’s monopoly in the app distribution sector.

The issue first came to light after Epic’s previous legal battles with Google over its app store policies, which were ruled to be anti-competitive. A jury had already found Google’s agreements with smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung, to be unlawful. Despite this ruling, Epic contends that the introduction of Auto Blocker is a new tactic to circumvent potential future restrictions. By making it the default setting on Samsung devices, Epic claims that users must now navigate a 21-step process to download competing app stores, which discourages competition.

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