Video game giant Epic Games has taken legal action against Google and Samsung, accusing the tech titans of stifling third-party competition in the app distribution landscape on Samsung devices. This marks Epic's second lawsuit against Google, following a successful antitrust case in December.
At the heart of the lawsuit is Samsung's \"Auto Blocker\" feature, which defaults to allowing app installations only from authorized sources like the Samsung Galaxy Store and Google Play Store. While users can change this setting, Epic argues that the Auto Blocker effectively reinforces Google's dominance over Android app distribution, limiting opportunities for alternative platforms.
Epic, known for its blockbuster game \"Fortnite,\" launched its Epic Games Store on iPhones in the European Union and expanded to Android devices globally in August. However, the company contends that downloading their store outside of the official channels involves an \"exceptionally onerous 21-step process,\" a barrier that it claims is designed to impede competition.
\"Allowing this coordinated illegal anti-competitive dealing to proceed hurts developers and consumers and undermines both the jury's verdict and regulatory and legislative progress around the world,\" Epic Games stated on its website.
In response, Samsung emphasized that its features prioritize security, privacy, and user control. \"Users have the choice to disable Auto Blocker at any time,\" the company testified, asserting its commitment to fair market competition.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney voiced his frustration on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, stating, \"Literally no store can compete with the incumbents when disadvantaged in this way. To have true competition, all reputable stores and apps must be free to compete on a level playing field.\"
The legal battle underscores the ongoing tensions in the tech industry over app distribution rights and market dominance, with significant implications for developers, consumers, and the broader landscape of digital marketplaces.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
