Epic Games, the American company behind the popular video game “Fortnite,” is suing Google in an Indian court for failing to comply with certain parts of an antitrust directive. Epic Games has filed a case against Google in New Delhi’s National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
The company claims that Google is not hosting third-party app stores on Google’s Play Store app, in violation of a requirement in the directive. This is known as “sideloading,” and it allows apps to be downloaded without using the Play Store. Epic Games Store, the company’s own app store, allows users to download games and other apps. The company claims that Google’s noncompliance has “adversely affected” it.
Google has been dealing with a number of legal issues in India. After losing a legal battle with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Google announced last month that it would make changes to its Android operating system, including ceasing its practise of forcing device makers to pre-install a slew of Google apps like YouTube or Chrome. However, Epic Games claimed in a filing that Google violated a provision of the CCI directive.
Epic Games has previously taken on Apple and Google for charging high app store commissions.
In October 2020, the CCI accused Google of abusing its dominant position in Android in India, where the operating system is used by 97% of smartphones. Google was ordered by the regulator to change its Android business model, including allowing competing third-party app stores on the Play Store.
Google denied any wrongdoing and warned that the ruling would limit the Android ecosystem’s growth. However, India’s Supreme Court ordered Google to comply with the CCI directives while also allowing it to continue arguing its case before the New Delhi appeals tribunal, where Epic Games had filed its case.
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