Epic Games Aims Antitrust Accusations at Google and Samsung; YouTube Content Down over Legal Dispute; Brazil Imposes New Fine for X

Today’s news: Epic Games Aims Antitrust Accusations at Google and Samsung; YouTube Content Down over Legal Dispute; Brazil Imposes New Fine for X 

The ad tech ecosystem is brimming with legal news. Kicking off the week, Epic Games threw accusations at both Google and Samsung on Monday for conspiring to protect Google’s Play Store from competition. The Fortnite video game maker said it would file a US federal court lawsuit in California alleging that a Samsung smartphone feature – Auto Blocker – was actually intended to discourage users from downloading Android apps from sources other than the Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store. Epic claims that both companies are violating US antitrust laws by reducing consumer choice and restricting competition. In addition, it plans to raise these competition concerns with EU regulators. This action follows Epic Games’ recent win against Google over its app store, which resulted in the Jury deciding that the tech giant had been running an illegal monopoly. 

Next, a legal dispute between YouTube and performing rights organisation SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) has led to the video platform blocking certain musical content in the US in line with copyright law. In a post on X, YouTube explains that its music licence agreement with SESAC has expired without their having reached an agreement on renewal terms. YouTube claims this was despite their best efforts. Some suggest that the move is a negotiation tactic, as their partnership does not expire until next week. Artists whose content has been blocked include Adele, Burna Boy and Britney Spears, among many others. According to its website, the organisation currently licences the content of more than 1.5 million songs. 

Lastly, late last week, Brazil’s top court imposed a new fine for X, which it must comply with in order to resume its service in the country. This is due to a brief period last week during which X was made available again for some users in Brazil. Including the sum of the new fine, X needs to pay a total of 28.3m reais (£3.9m). Earlier that week, X told the court it had already complied with Brazil’s orders to stop the spread of misinformation, requesting a lift of the ban. On Friday, however, Judge Alexandre de Moraes maintained that X must still agree to pay the total of the pending fines which had been ordered by the court.  

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