Epic Games is suing Google and Samsung over its ‘Auto Block’ mobile cybersecurity feature.

Epic Games Inc. today sued Google LLC and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. regarding the auto-lock feature on Samsung Android devices.

The complaint is the second the video game maker has filed against Google in recent years. The previous lawsuit, which dates back to 2020, ended with a jury verdict against the search giant last year. In its latest complaint, Epic alleges that Samsung’s auto-blocking feature is intended to soften the impact of last year’s jury verdict.

Epic’s original 2020 lawsuit against Google was one of two it filed this year. The second complaint was against Apple Inc. and its App Store. In the lawsuit, Epic accused both technology giants of violating antitrust laws in the mobile application market.

The video game maker took issue with the fact that Apple and Google charged a fee of up to 30% for in-app purchases. Additionally, companies have restricted developers’ ability to use competing payment processing systems that charge lower commissions. These restrictions apply to Epic because it sells an iOS version of its flagship video game Fortnite, and until 2020 also offered an Android client.

In both cases, Epic was victorious. Last year, a judge ordered Apple to allow iOS apps to connect to third-party payment services. Meanwhile, Epic’s lawsuit against Google resulted in a jury verdict that found the search engine giant maintained a monopoly in the app distribution and in-app payment processing segments.

A judge will decide later this year how to address Google’s business practices. According to Edgethe search giant could be ordered to allow the distribution of third-party app stores through the Play Store. In its new lawsuit against Google and Samsung, Epic claims that the latter company’s Auto Lock feature is an attempt to “undermine” the remedies to be issued in the Google monopolization case.

Auto block is a cybersecurity setting in Samsung devices that ensures users are protected from malicious apps. When enabled, the feature blocks downloads from sources other than the Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store. According to Epic, disabling auto-blocking is a time-consuming process that involves several steps.

This feature was disabled by default when Samsung introduced it last year. Last June, the electronics giant turned Auto Block into an opt-out feature. Epic says this change was the first time “Samsung has imposed additional difficulties on consumers who try to download apps outside of the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store.”

The video game maker has filed its latest lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Epic is seeking a jury verdict ordering Google and Samsung to disable auto-locking features on the latter company’s devices by default.

Google said in a statement that “this is a baseless lawsuit. Android device manufacturers can take their own steps to keep their users safe.”

A Samsung spokesperson stated that “contrary to Epic Game’s claims, Samsung actively supports competition in the marketplace, increases consumer choice and conducts its business with integrity. The features integrated into our devices are designed in accordance with Samsung’s core principles of security, privacy and user control, and we are fully committed to protecting your personal information.”

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