![]() David Evans, told the court, “Apple’s rules unfairly prevent developers from letting consumers know if their prices for in-app purchases take into account the iPhone maker’s 30% commission or that consumers may be able to get better deals elsewhere,” ( Wall Street Journal). Two expert witnesses testified on behalf of Epic Games. In its opening statement, Epic Games compares Apple’s restrictive policies to a “Walled Garden.” Its argument is based on the unfairness of Apple’s control over purchasing options. ![]() Opening Statements and Trial Arguments (photo credits from The Verge ) However, Epic Games has recently filed lawsuits in November 2020 (Australia), January 2021 (United Kingdom), and February 2021 (Europe). Trial dates for the international lawsuits against Apple are unknown. Pending trial, she declined Epic Games’ request for Apple to host Fortnite on iOS devices. The presiding judge for the United States trial is Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The trial will be held in person and the press and public are prohibited from entering the courtroom. This proceeding is a bench trial thus, the judge will be making the final ruling with no jury. The trial began on Monday, May 3 rd, 2021 in federal court in Oakland, California. If Apple wins the trial, this contract violation could keep Fortnite and all other apps made by Epic Games, or apps run by its game engine, Unreal Engine, from the App Store ( The Verge). According to Apple, Epic Games violated its agreement by installing V-Bucks without Apple’s permission. ![]() In response to Epic Games’ claim of Apple becoming a monopoly, Apple explains the fairness in its decision to remove the game from its App Store. Since these purchases are not made through the App Store, V-Bucks circumvents Apple’s chances of receiving its 30% share of any transaction, hence its removal from the App Store and the foundation of #FreeFortnite. Users who purchase Fortnite items such as outfits, pickaxes, and the latest season’s Battle Pass get to enjoy a 20% discount, which incentivizes players to continue using V-Bucks. The catalyst for Fortnite’s removal from Apple’s App Store was the release of a new update by Epic Games which included the implementation of an in-game purchasing currency called “V-Bucks.” This currency allows players to buy items through non-App Store channels. Epic Games not only wants Fortnite back on the iOS App Store, but it also wants to launch a rival App Store on all Apple devices so users can purchase Epic Games products through non-Apple means. Due to Apple’s renowned international success, Epic Games has filed lawsuits against Apple in Australian, United Kingdom, and European courts. Epic Games accused the tech giant of monopolizing purchasing options for apps by restricting other methods of conducting transactions. Fortnite’s eradication from iOS App Stores has caused players from around the world to unite in a social media campaign called #FreeFortnite. ![]() This prohibited 116 million of its 350 million users from updating the game and new consumers from downloading the app (this does not affect the remaining players using other smartphones or gaming consoles). in response to the removal of its most popular game, Fortnite, from the iPhone App Store. As it unfolds, this post will delve into the perspectives of both businesses, describe the nature of the trial, introduce opening statements from the first day of the trial, and explain possible outcomes for both Epic Games and Apple.Įpic Games has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple Inc. The trial began on May 3 rd, 2021 and is ongoing, so this blog post will not have all the answers. On August 13 th, 2020, Apple found itself involved in an antitrust lawsuit against Fortnite video game creator, Epic Games. Recently, another behemoth has followed suit (pun intended). Technology giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google face legal battles yearly.
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