Fortnite maker Epic Video games filed a lawsuit Monday accusing Google and Samsung, the world’s largest Android maker, of conspiring to dam third-party opponents of the Google Play Retailer.
The swimsuit, filed in federal courtroom in California, alleges Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” function illegally prevents customers from downloading apps from locations apart from Google Play Retailer or Samsung’s Galaxy Retailer on Android gadgets, violating U.S. antitrust regulation.
The Auto Blocker, a default function on Samsung gadgets, is marketed by the corporate to “protect” Samsung gadgets by stopping the set up of apps from “unauthorized sources and blocking malicious activity.” Customers can flip the setting off in the course of the preliminary setup of their gadgets.
The Google Play Retailer is utilized by tons of of thousands and thousands of individuals to obtain apps for smartphones that use Google’s Android software program. In response to the swimsuit, solely about 1 p.c of Android app downloads come from the Galaxy Retailer, Samsung’s personal app retailer.
“Auto Block cements the Google Play Store as the only viable way to get apps on Samsung devices, blocking every other store from competing on a level playing field,” Epic wrote in a press launch.
Calling it a “coordinated unlawful anticompetitive dealing,” the Fortnite creator alleged the function harms builders and shoppers, whereas undermining a federal jury’s choice in opposition to Google in one other antitrust swimsuit introduced by Epic final yr.
In that case, the jury reached a unanimous verdict final December discovering that the cost system and practices of Google’s Play Retailer had been a violation of antitrust regulation.
It capped off a three-year authorized battle between Epic and Google after the sport growing firm accused Google of defending its Play Retailer from competitors to proceed making billions in income. Google collects a fee starting from 15 p.c to 30 p.c on digital purchases inside apps.
Epic claimed that case additionally touched upon Google’s “long history of inducing Samsung into anticompetitive dealings.”
The gaming growth firm is asking the courtroom to require Samsung to remove the Auto Blocker by default and to challenge an injunction prohibiting any anticompetitive and unfair conduct by Samsung and Google.
A spokesperson for Samsung instructed The Hill the corporate plans to “vigorously contest Epic Game’s baseless claims.”
“Contrary to Epic Game’s assertions, Samsung actively fosters market competition, enhances consumer choice, and conducts its operations fairly,” the spokesperson wrote.
“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.”
In one other antitrust swimsuit introduced in opposition to Apple by Epic in 2021, a decide sided with Apple, ruling the tech big isn’t an unlawful monopoly, however somewhat has engaged in unlawful anticompetitive conduct. Like Google, Apple collects a fee on funds made inside apps.
The Hill reached out to Google for additional remark.
