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Epic Games
Epic Games is preparing its legal forces again. The Fortnite and Unreal Engine creator is filing a new lawsuit against Google and Samsung over Auto Blocker, a feature that "protects your Galaxy device and data by preventing the installation of applications from unauthorized sources."
As noted by GamesIndustry.biz, Auto Blocker was first introduced as optional last year, but in July 2024, Samsung announced it would be switched on by default, preventing users from installing apps that aren't distributed by the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store.
This blocks people from getting applications from alternative app stores, including the one by Epic Games, which plays into Samsung and Google's "anti-competitive and unfair conduct" and makes users go through "an exceptionally onerous 21-step process" to download external programs.
"As an app developer, Epic is harmed by Samsung’s untruthful statements that its apps are unknown and unsafe," Epic said. "These false statements not only harm Epic’s reputation but lead to identifiable instances of users abandoning the installation of Epic apps, resulting in the lost profits that would have resulted from purchases made by those users."
The company also claims Auto Blocker "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" and undermines the results of its last year's legal battle with Google, where Epic emerged victorious, proving Google was demonstrating anticompetitive behavior.
"The jury’s decision was unanimous and clear; Google’s agreements with OEMs to block competition are illegal," Epic Games said. "This applies not only to Google, but to the device manufacturers that collude with them. We will take all necessary steps to ensure this decision is fully upheld."
Now, the developer wants a jury trial and money for damages and legal costs.
Epic Games' Fortnite returned to iOS in the EU in August after a long fight with Apple, so it might win this one again.
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