Epic Games accuses Google and Samsung of illegal monopoly practices

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Do Android users use the Google Play store because they want to, or because they have to? This is exactly the question that has Fortnite-creators Epic Games suing Google and Samsung in a new antitrust lawsuit.

The well-known games company is taking the two tech giants to court over the introduction of Samsung’s new “Auto Blocker” feature, a setting they claim makes it harder for users to install software from their competitors’ app stores.

In its federal lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California, Epic also claims that Samsung has colluded with Google to maintain the latter’s monopoly over the app distribution market. Citing internal communications between the two companies, Epic intends to scrutinize what it calls a cozy relationship between the two companies.

Among other things, Epic is asking the courts to stop what it describes as Samsung and Google’s anticompetitive and unfair conduct and restore competition in the marketplace.

Epic won a related lawsuit against Google last year, when a jury found that Google had violated the Sherman Act and Cartwright Act, two major antitrust statutes, by engaging in anticompetitive conduct that harmed Epic Games’ business.

In the aftermath of the legal battle, several tech companies, including Epic Games, Microsoft and others, announced their intent to move into the app distribution market. Epic Games launched its own mobile store, which was released last month.

However, one month ahead of the release of Epic’s mobile store, Samsung released its Auto Blocker feature for its mobile devices. Epic says that the setting, which comes pre-installed on Samsung phones, prevents users from downloading its app store and any others in direct competition with Google or Samsung.

“When Auto Blocker is set to ‘on,’ it disables the installation of apps from any and all sources other than the Play Store and the Samsung Galaxy Store,” Epic Games says in its lawsuit. “These are the only sources Auto Blocker deems ‘authorized sources’ for apps, to the exclusion of all other stores as well as direct downloading of apps from the web.”

Furthermore, the games company says it takes “an exceptionally onerous 21-step process” to download apps outside of the Play and Galaxy Stores, which it outlines on its website.

Epic further accuses Samsung of blocking competition by not offering an avenue for third-party store operators to qualify for their stores as “authorized sources” under the Auto Blocker.

Samsung, however, says that the new feature is not aimed at quashing competition but at improving security on its smartphones.

“When enabled, Auto Blocker protects your Galaxy device and data by preventing the installation of applications from unauthorized sources and blocking malicious activity,” Samsung says on its website.

Samsung has one of the largest shares of Android smartphone sales, comprising roughly 40% of Android devices worldwide.

“Contrary to Epic Game’s assertions, Samsung 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. We plan to vigorously contest Epic Game’s baseless claims,” a spokesperson for Samsung said.

Google also commented on the lawsuit, defending Samsung’s right to take security measures on their consumers’ behalf.

“This is a meritless lawsuit. Android device makers are free to take their own steps to keep their users safe and secure,” a spokesperson for Google said.