Epic Games sues Google and Samsung over app store exclusion

In a federal court in California, Epic Games has filed a lawsuit against Google and Samsung, alleging that the two companies have colluded to restrict competition in app distribution on Samsung devices. The lawsuit centers around Samsung's Auto Blocker feature, which prevents users from installing apps from unauthorized sources, effectively limiting access to third-party app stores. Epic claims that this feature was intentionally set to be on by default, creating significant barriers for users attempting to download apps outside of the Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store. Epic argues that the Auto Blocker feature is designed to entrench Google's dominance in the Android app distribution market, undermining a previous jury verdict that found Google’s practices to be anti-competitive. The company asserts that the process to disable Auto Blocker is cumbersome, requiring users to navigate a lengthy 21-step procedure, which discourages them from using alternative app stores. This change in Samsung's policy occurred shortly after Epic launched its own app store, raising concerns about the timing and intent behind the Auto Blocker. Samsung has responded by defending its practices, stating that the Auto Blocker is a security feature aimed at protecting users from malicious applications. The company plans to contest Epic's claims vigorously, asserting that it promotes market competition and user choice. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for app distribution on Android devices and the broader tech industry. This legal battle is part of Epic's ongoing efforts to challenge the app store policies of major tech companies, including previous lawsuits against Apple and Google, as it seeks to create a more competitive environment for app developers and consumers.