Chief Executive Officer of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, announced recently on a social platform that the company had settled an antimonopoly suit against Samsung in September 2024. He said: “After discussions between the parties, we decided to withdraw the prosecution against Samsung. We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic’s concerns.”
Epic’s concerns are focused on the security features of the AutoBlocker, updated with One UI 6.0 by Samsung. The functionality was first introduced in October 2023 and was initially used as an optional feature to deter source-based applications outside the Samsung Galaxy Applied Shop and Google Play Shop. In July 2024, Samsung set this function to a default open state. Epic expressed strong opposition to Samsung ‘ s action and condemned its kidnapping users. The default “automated interceptor” required the user to complete an “unusually cumbersome 21-step operation” to download applications from sources outside Google Play and Samsung Galaxy. This process mimics Google ‘ s installation process for unknown source programs and contains multiple steps and intimidating bullet windows. This is the first time that Samsung has imposed additional barriers on users trying to obtain applications from outside official shops. Epic argued that the “automated interceptor” undermined the spirit of the verdict reached unanimously by the jury in Epic v. Google. The decision clearly states that “Google has entered into one or more agreements that unreasonably limit competition in the relevant antimonopoly market”, including “an agreement with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) who sells mobile equipment”.
On 11 December 2023, Justice James Donato of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that Google had violated antimonopoly law by maintaining Play’s position as the main application store in Android. Violations included an agreement to ensure the use of exclusive distribution through Play Shop. A Play shop is required to be preloaded on third-party equipment. The judge ordered that Google must allow the operation of alternative application shops on the Andreau system and temporarily prohibited Google from providing financial incentives to developers who publish applications only at Play. This critical victory cleared the way for the Epic Gomes store to finally access the Android platform. Following the hard-won law-sawing by the manager, the Epic Games store officially went online on the Android and iOS platforms on 16 August 2024. Epic’s reconciliation with Samsung marked another milestone in its challenge to the application of the ecological barriers to mobile applications. Although the specific settlement clause was not made public, Sweeney ‘ s statement demonstrated Samsung ‘ s commitment to take measures to address Epic ‘ s core concerns.
