In a bold move, Epic Games has taken legal action against tech giants Google and Samsung on allegations of collusion to stifle third-party competition in app distribution on Samsung devices. The crux of the matter lies in Samsung’s ‘Auto Blocker’ feature, which restricts the installation of apps solely from approved sources like the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store, with the intent of blocking potentially harmful activity. Although this feature can be disabled in device settings, it remains enabled by default.
Outlined below are the key points of this legal battle:
- Epic Games has filed a lawsuit in a San Francisco federal court, pointing out that Samsung’s Auto Blocker essentially solidifies Google’s control over app distribution on Android devices. The lawsuit aims to prevent Google from impeding fair competition within the Android App Distribution Market.
- Epic Games deems Google and Samsung’s questionable tactics as harmful to developers and consumers, emphasizing the importance of upholding fair competition and the progress made in regulatory and legislative domains globally.
- Google has yet to respond to the allegations, while Samsung maintains its commitment to market competition and consumer choice, citing security, privacy, and user control as core principles.
- Epic Games, known for its popular game Fortnite, experienced success in a previous antitrust lawsuit against Google, where it was found that anti-competitive barriers in Google’s app store had adversely impacted consumers and developers.
- Epic Games launched its own store on iOS devices in the EU and on Android globally, highlighting the challenges of downloading third-party apps outside of established app stores due to the intricate 21-step process involved. Epic Games provides a four-step guide on their website to disable Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature.
- Epic Games’ CEO, Tim Sweeney, asserts that true competition can only thrive in an environment where all stores and apps have an equal opportunity to compete without unfair advantages.
In conclusion, this legal battle underscores the importance of maintaining fairness and competition in the app distribution market. Epic Games’ efforts to challenge industry giants like Google and Samsung serve as a reminder of the need for a level playing field to foster innovation and consumer choice. This clash between tech titans sets the stage for potential changes that could shape the future of app distribution landscapes.
