Epic has accused Apple of unfairly using its App Store’s power to take a cut of the money made in Fortnite, a popular online game.
Cosmetics. Digital dances called “emotes” A currency called V-Bucks. Virtual concerts. Fortnite, the popular gaming platform, is more than just a game. It is a “metaverse,” full of virtual life, said Tim Sweeney, chief executive of Epic Games, the company that created Fortnite.
And Apple, he argued in federal court on Monday, wants an unfair cut of the money to be made in the Fortnite metaverse.
Mr. Sweeney offered a granular explanation of Fortnite to paint an expansive portrait of his company’s world on the first day of what is expected to be a three-week trial, pitting Epic against Apple in a fight over Apple’s App Store fees and other rules that could reshape the $100 billion app economy.
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Apple accused of breaking EU law over App Store sales fees
Apple has been accused of breaking EU law by charging high fees and setting unfair rules on those selling their products in its App Store, resulting typically in a 30% price hike for paying customers.
Margrethe Vestager, the European commissioner for competition, said the preliminary view was that Apple had distorted competition in the music streaming market by abusing its dominant position and role as a “gatekeeper” to the 1.8m apps in its store.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/30/apple-eu-law-app-store-iphone-ipad-music-streaming
Apple takes its fight with Epic Games over the App Store to court
“Fortnite” maker Epic Games and Apple kicked off their three-week trial Monday in a courtroom battle that could have far reaching implications for the iPhone maker’s business model and U.S. antitrust law.
In opening statements in a federal courthouse in Oakland, Calif., Epic painted Apple as a monopolist that concocted a plan to lure software developers and customers into iOS, its mobile operating system, and then lock them in with onerous and restrictive rules.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/03/apple-vs-epic-live-updates/