Epic Games And Match Group Again Google Do Antitrust

Google violated per se against Sherman Act, (photo: Sascha Bosshard / Unplash)

JAKARTA - The feud between Epic Games and Match Group with Google never ends. Last week the two companies again added monopoly accusations against the search engine giant.

Reportedly in filings to federal courts in the Northern District of California, United States (US), Epic Games and Match accused Google of paying developers with funds and the ability to create competing Android app stores.

Epic Games is a game-besuter fortnite and Match Group is a developer of dating apps Tinder and OkCupid.

In particular, Epic Games and Match Group point to deals like Project Hug. As part of the initiative, which was later dubbed App and Game Speed Program, Google spent millions of dollars to keep some of the most popular Android developers on the Play Store.

"Some of these agreements are meant to prevent developers from launching competing app stores, and have done so," the filing reads.

The allegations also include Google committing "per" violations of the Sherman Act, the major US antitrust law.

Based on the Sherman Act, per violation does not require the plaintiff to show how certain behaviors have a negative impact on the market because such actions are generally accepted to reduce competition.

"Epic and Match continue to add inaccurate accusations to their failed lawsuits and we look forward to straightening them out in court," a Google spokesperson told Engadget quoted on Tuesday, October 11.

According to Google, the program referred to by Epic Games and Match Group is only an incentive for developers to provide benefits and initial access to Google Play users when they release new or updated content.

However, the program does not prevent developers from creating competing app stores like the two claim companies.

"This program is proof that Google Play competes fairly with many competitors for developers who have a wide selection of operating systems and app stores," a Google spokesperson said.

Quoted from CNET, this step marks the latest changes in Epic Games' old lawsuit with Google. Where Epic Games some time ago argued that Google illegally forced app developers to use its payment processing services, which charge a mandatory commission of up to 30 percent.

Epic is also suing Apple for the same problem. Both Google and Apple have maintained their respective fair rules and are included in standard industry practices.