Aayush Pathak
Epic Games, the renowned developer behind the popular video game Fortnite, has launched a significant lawsuit against tech giants Google and Samsung, alleging that their collaboration is designed to stifle competition in the app market. The lawsuit, filed in a U.S. federal court in California, centers around Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature, which Epic claims is intended to deter users from downloading apps from sources other than the Google Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store.
Allegations of Collusion
Epic’s legal action accuses both companies of conspiring to maintain Google’s dominance in the app distribution market. According to Epic, the Auto Blocker feature, which was introduced on Samsung devices in late 2023, prevents users from installing apps deemed “unknown” or outside of the sanctioned app stores. This tactic is said to reduce consumer choice and inhibit competition, ultimately leading to higher prices for consumers.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, emphasized the importance of this legal battle, stating, “It’s about unfair competition by misleading users into thinking competitors’ products are inferior to the company’s products themselves.” He criticized Google for promoting the Auto Blocker as a safety measure while knowing that Fortnite had previously been distributed through their platform.
Samsung’s Defense
In response to the lawsuit, Samsung has stated its intention to “vigorously contest” what it describes as “baseless claims.” The company insists that features like Auto Blocker are designed with user security and privacy in mind. A spokesperson noted that users have the option to disable the Auto Blocker at any time.
Samsung introduced this feature as an opt-in security measure aimed at protecting users from potentially harmful applications. However, Epic argues that since it was made the default setting in July 2024, it has become increasingly difficult for users to bypass or disable it.
Implications of Previous Legal Battles
This lawsuit follows a previous victory for Epic against Google in December 2023 when a jury ruled that Google’s practices constituted an illegal monopoly. Epic contends that Samsung’s Auto Blocker was implemented as a direct response to mitigate the impact of this ruling. The gaming company plans to raise its concerns with regulators in the European Union as well.
Epic has been embroiled in legal disputes with both Apple and Google over their app store policies for several years. The company has criticized their practices regarding high commission rates on app sales and in-app purchases. In August 2024, Fortnite made its return to Android devices after a four-year absence but required users to download Epic’s own app store.
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