Epic Games Files Lawsuit Against Google and Samsung Concerning Phone Settings
Epic Games has initiated a lawsuit against Google and Samsung concerning modifications to phone settings. The legal action centers around the companies' practices, which Epic alleges are limiting competition.
TroibNews 
Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google and Samsung on Monday, claiming that the tech firms collaborated to limit third-party competition in app distribution on Samsung devices.
The lawsuit centers on Samsung's "Auto Blocker" feature, which permits the installation of apps only from approved sources, like the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store. This feature is enabled by default but can be modified via the phone's settings. According to Samsung, the tool is designed to stop the installation of apps from unauthorized sources and to prevent "malicious activity."
In the lawsuit submitted to a federal court in San Francisco—Epic's second against Google—the company argued that the Auto Blocker "is virtually guaranteed to entrench Google's dominance over Android app distribution." Epic, the creator of the widely popular game "Fortnite," initiated the legal action to ensure Google does not "negate the long overdue promise of competition in the Android App Distribution Market," as stated in the complaint.
"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 expressed in a statement on its website.
While Google did not respond immediately for comment, Samsung asserted that it "actively fosters market competition, enhances consumer choice, and conducts its operations fairly."
"The features integrated into our devices are designed in accordance with Samsung's core principles of security, privacy, and user control, and we remain fully committed to safeguarding users' personal data. Users have the choice to disable Auto Blocker at any time," Samsung stated, indicating plans to "vigorously contest Epic Game's baseless claims."
In August, Epic launched its Epic Games Store on iPhones in the European Union and on Android devices globally. The company argues that downloading a third-party app outside the Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy Store now involves "an exceptionally onerous 21-step process." A support page on Epic's website outlines a four-step procedure to disable the Auto Blocker setting, which, when combined with Google's and Samsung's "install flow," contributes to the 21-step download process for the Epic Games Store.
Epic previously won an antitrust lawsuit against Google in December when a jury determined that Google's Android app store was safeguarded by anti-competitive barriers that adversely affected smartphone consumers and software developers.
Epic contends that the Auto Blocker feature was deliberately designed in collaboration with Google to undermine the jury's verdict in that case.
"Literally no store can compete with the incumbents when disadvantaged in this way," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stated on X. "To have true competition, all reputable stores and apps must be free to compete on a level playing field."
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
The lawsuit centers on Samsung's "Auto Blocker" feature, which permits the installation of apps only from approved sources, like the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store. This feature is enabled by default but can be modified via the phone's settings. According to Samsung, the tool is designed to stop the installation of apps from unauthorized sources and to prevent "malicious activity."
In the lawsuit submitted to a federal court in San Francisco—Epic's second against Google—the company argued that the Auto Blocker "is virtually guaranteed to entrench Google's dominance over Android app distribution." Epic, the creator of the widely popular game "Fortnite," initiated the legal action to ensure Google does not "negate the long overdue promise of competition in the Android App Distribution Market," as stated in the complaint.
"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 expressed in a statement on its website.
While Google did not respond immediately for comment, Samsung asserted that it "actively fosters market competition, enhances consumer choice, and conducts its operations fairly."
"The features integrated into our devices are designed in accordance with Samsung's core principles of security, privacy, and user control, and we remain fully committed to safeguarding users' personal data. Users have the choice to disable Auto Blocker at any time," Samsung stated, indicating plans to "vigorously contest Epic Game's baseless claims."
In August, Epic launched its Epic Games Store on iPhones in the European Union and on Android devices globally. The company argues that downloading a third-party app outside the Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy Store now involves "an exceptionally onerous 21-step process." A support page on Epic's website outlines a four-step procedure to disable the Auto Blocker setting, which, when combined with Google's and Samsung's "install flow," contributes to the 21-step download process for the Epic Games Store.
Epic previously won an antitrust lawsuit against Google in December when a jury determined that Google's Android app store was safeguarded by anti-competitive barriers that adversely affected smartphone consumers and software developers.
Epic contends that the Auto Blocker feature was deliberately designed in collaboration with Google to undermine the jury's verdict in that case.
"Literally no store can compete with the incumbents when disadvantaged in this way," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stated on X. "To have true competition, all reputable stores and apps must be free to compete on a level playing field."
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
