Apple and Epic Games have been engaged in a protracted legal battle over the monopolistic nature of the App Store. The matter remains unresolved, and the latest ruling by the judge has favored one of the parties involved. To get a comprehensive overview of the situation, read on.
The ongoing feud between Apple and Epic Games has not escaped public attention. Even after a considerable amount of time has passed since the initial incident, there are still unresolved issues, as is the case here. Apple has been accused of monopolizing the market by keeping its application store closed off from profit-sharing opportunities. This is precisely what has irked Epic Games, who are willing to take the matter as far as possible.
The judge agrees with Apple in the case with Epic Games
In 2020, Epic Games breached the App Store’s terms by introducing an external purchasing system, which triggered a legal battle that continues to this day. However, this move has not been fruitful for Epic Games as a judge ruled in 2021 that Apple did not violate any antitrust laws, much to their dismay. Epic Games reacted promptly by appealing the decision.
After their appeal, Epic Games found that the judge had sided with Apple, upholding the initial ruling and making Apple the “victor” in the case. Nevertheless, this ruling does not nullify the directive that Apple received to implement changes within its app store, allowing developers to employ alternative purchasing methods outside of the App Store. Apple is not pleased with this outcome, as it fears it could disrupt the delicate balance between developers and customers that the App Store has created.
Cupertino is now attempting to delay this development for as long as possible. In fact, Apple itself stated that this decision could cause harm to the balance between developers and customers.
Apple, undeterred by setbacks, has indicated its willingness to explore the possibility of extending the duration of the recent changes in response to the court ruling. Despite expressing their compliance and agreement with the court’s decision, they remain resolute in their quest for an extended review, in the hope of avoiding the inevitable outcome. However, this seems like a remote possibility. It is worth noting that Apple has been compelled to open up a path for more third-party stores on iOS 17, under the pressure of the European Union. This development has not been received favorably, as one would expect.
