Epic Games has recently increased its long-term campaign against Apple. They’ve filed a cross-motion of their own, calling on the court to impose such an injunction on the tech giant’s App Store rules. On Friday, the opposition motion was filed, and it made global gaming giant Apple Inc. approve Fortnite to return to its App Store. This ruling can make HUGE change to the game for app developers.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said she is still awaiting receipt of Epic Games’ final revised motion. She cautioned that unless Apple acts decisively soon, they may need to return to the court for further clarification. This ongoing case highlights the friction between Epic Games and Apple, which has persisted for years over issues related to Apple’s App Store policies.
Currently, Apple’s policies have restricted app developers from linking to external payment options, mandating that they pay Apple a commission on transactions made within their apps. Judge Gonzalez Rogers had previously found that Apple was in “willful violation” of the Court’s injunction. This decision followed the company’s anticompetitive pricing and commission-related practices. The court’s injunction had ostensibly paved the way for Fortnite’s return to the App Store.
The tense exchange continued to rise over the weekend after Epic Games filed its motion on Friday, demanding that Apple take immediate action. Judge Gonzalez Rogers seemed doubtful that Apple could figure this out on its own without additional help from the court.
“Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing.” – Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers
Epic Games has been a vocal and forceful critic of Apple’s App Store practices. They say that these rules are anti-competitive and a barrier to innovation in the digital marketplace. The company’s failed, previous negotiations with Apple led to a multi-year legal war. This fight has had unprecedented attention and airtime from the tech industry.
The ongoing dispute stems from a broader concern among developers regarding the fairness of Apple’s commission structure and its control over app distribution. Developers of all sizes have contended that Apple’s policies unfairly favor the company’s bottom line over the smaller app developers who feed the ecosystem.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers pointed out that there is a lack of “legal authority upon which Apple contends that it can ignore this Court’s order.” This was a very encouraging comment, as it emphasizes the urgency of the situation and adds more pressure on Apple to abide by court decisions.
As Epic Games seeks to turn the tide in its favor, it remains to be seen how Apple will respond to the latest developments. The stakes are extremely high for the companies that would be funded. They affect the broader tech ecosystem that use app stores for distribution and monetization.
