New Delhi, October 1: Fortnite creator Epic Games reportedly filed a lawsuit against Google and Samsung, accusing them of blocking app competition in their app distribution platforms. The gaming giant, known for its popular game Fortnite, claims that both Google and Samsung have restricted competition by imposing anti-competitive practices in their app stores. The lawsuit revolves around how these tech giants allegedly prevented other app developers from distributing apps freely.

As per a report of Digit, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google and Samsung for allegedly preventing fair competition in the app distribution market. The lawsuit alleges that Samsung's Auto Blocker feature is not just a simple tool but a coordinated effort with Google to maintain its dominance in the app market. Flipkart Sellers File Lawsuit Against Competition Commission of India Over Antitrust Probe; Check Details.

Initially introduced in October 2023 as an optional feature, Auto Blocker was switched to a default setting by July 2024.  The change in the Auto Blocker feature makes it difficult for users to install apps from third-party sources apart from Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store.

Epic Games lawsuit points out a concerning trend in how Google operates. Earlier legal cases, such as the United States vs Google and Epic vs Google, have shown that Google allegedly supports companies like Samsung. The Auto Blocker feature is created to prevent users from downloading apps from any place other than the Google Play Store and the Samsung Galaxy Store.

It means that if someone tries to get an app from a different source, Auto Blocker will stop them. The feature encourage users to only use these official stores for their app downloads, but it also limits their options and choices for finding third-party apps. Apple Watch Series 10’s Sleep Apnoea Feature Useful To Spot Risk Amid Rise of Cases in India.

Epic Games is reportedly urging the court to intervene and put an end to what they believe are unfair practices by both Google and Samsung. They are requesting that the court order the removal of the Auto Blocker feature and want app distribution to remain fair and open for all developers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2024 01:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).