Epic Games has launched a lawsuit against Google and Samsung, accusing them of anticompetitive behavior by making it impossible to install software from sources other than their official stores. The problem is around Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” feature, which was introduced in 2023 and became the default in 2024, and compels users to go through a lengthy process to download third-party programs. Epic contends that this violates antitrust rules since it restricts competition and supports Google’s dominance in app distribution via the Play Store.
Initially, Samsung’s Auto Blocker was an opt-in function that allowed consumers to prevent third-party app installations. By making this functionality the default, Samsung and Google greatly reduced customers’ ability to download apps from other shops. Epic Games sees this as a deliberate attempt to decrease competition, claiming that it inhibits innovation and breaches ethical business principles.
This lawsuit reflects growing concerns about internet companies’ control over digital platforms. Google and Samsung are accused of establishing hurdles that limit developers’ prospects while also reducing consumers’ freedom of choice. For app makers like Epic Games, it’s about keeping app ecosystems open and competitive, avoiding monopolistic practices from suffocating creativity.
Epic Games is asking the courts to take action, compelling Samsung to eliminate Auto Blocker as the default option. They want to restore open access to alternative app shops and ensure that Google’s relationships with manufacturers, which limit competition, are illegal. Epic’s legal battle may establish a precedent for future app distribution policies, altering how mobile platforms work globally.
To summarize, the Epic vs. Google and Samsung case is about much more than app distribution. It is a protest against monopolistic techniques that restrict consumer choice and harm smaller developers. The conclusion might change the digital world, benefiting both users and developers.
