and European authorities have taken steps to rein in Apple’s stronghold over the mobile market. Epic’s software, including the hit game “Fortnite,” still remains off the App Store and Apple devices, but Epic Games Chief Executive Tim Sweeney has hinted at a return to the platform in 2023. That addressed a core issue within Epic’s lawsuit against Apple, but the current Apple policy doesn’t apply to gaming apps. This means that so-called Reader apps, which encompass apps and services for digital newspapers and magazines, books, audio streaming and video watching, can point users to the web with a button to complete their sign-up. One was to allow developers to “steer” consumers - in some scenarios - to make payments for subscription apps outside of Apple’s own payment system. It directed Rogers to revisit her ruling that Epic didn’t owe Apple fees it paid attorneys.Įven before Rogers ruled, Apple already was making changes to how the App Store operates to mitigate developer concerns. The panel said it agreed with the finding by Rogers that Epic was “injured” under California’s competition laws due to Apple’s previous policy that stopped app developers from steering users to outside payment methods. “Unless the correct relevant market is identified, one cannot properly assess anticompetitive effects, procompetitive justifications, and the satisfaction of procompetitive justifications through less anticompetitive means,” U.S. One appeals court judge dissented from that part of the ruling, saying the case should go back to Rogers to reanalyze it using the relevant market. In a high-stakes lawsuit the could have big implication for apps and mobile gaming, Epic Games has at times seemed to help make Apple’s case as much as its own. The appeals court said the lower court “erred” in defining the appropriate antitrust market but concluded that was “harmless” and Epic failed to “show its proposed market definition and the existence of any substantially less restrictive alternative means for Apple to accomplish the procompetitive justifications supporting iOS’s walled garden ecosystem.”īusiness Is Epic Games’ showdown with Apple turning into a mismatch? The judge, however, didn’t see the need to create third-party app stores or to push Apple to revamp policies over app developer fees. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers concluded that Apple’s policies prevent consumers from getting cheaper prices but rejected Epic’s claims that the App Store is run like a monopoly in violation of federal antitrust law.Īfter a three-week trial in Oakland, Rogers ordered the technology giant to allow developers of mobile applications to steer consumers to outside payment methods, granting an injunction sought by Epic. “We respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling on the one remaining claim under state law and are considering further review. “The App Store continues to promote competition, drive innovation, and expand opportunity, and we’re proud of its profound contributions to both users and developers around the world,” the company said in an emailed statement.
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