An Epic Games antitrust complaint was filed against Apple in Europe, following similar ones in the United States and Australia.
In the latter, Epic claims that “Apple has not only harmed, but completely eliminated competition” in iOS and iPadOS applications …
Epic made the announcement today.
Epic Games announced that it has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple in the European Union (‘EU’), expanding the company’s struggle to promote fairer digital platform practices for developers and consumers.
The complaint, submitted to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition, alleges that, through a series of carefully designed anti-competitive restrictions, Apple has not only harmed, but completely eliminated competition in application distribution and payment processes. Apple uses its control of the iOS ecosystem to benefit while blocking competitors and its conduct is an abuse of a dominant position and a violation of EU competition law.
Epic claims that Apple’s customers and developers are harmed.
“What is at stake here is the very future of mobile platforms.” Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said today. “Consumers have the right to install apps from sources of their choice and developers have the right to compete in a fair market. We will not sit idly by and allow Apple to use its platform domain to control what should be a level playing field. It is bad for consumers, who are paying inflated prices due to the total lack of competition between stores and the processing of payments in the app. And it’s bad for developers, whose livelihoods often depend on Apple’s complete discretion as to who to allow on the iOS platform, and on what terms. “
Business Insider has a statement from Apple in response.
“Epic has been one of the most successful developers on the App Store, growing in a multi-billion dollar business that reaches millions of iOS customers worldwide, including in the EU. In ways that a judge described as misleading and clandestine, Epic has enabled a feature in its app that has not been reviewed or approved by Apple, and has done so with the express intention of violating the App Store guidelines that apply equally to all developers and protect customers.
“His reckless behavior has turned customers into pawns and we hope to make that clear to the European Commission,” said an Apple spokesman.
The EU has not yet commented on the complaint.
The case in the U.S. court is expected to be heard in July. In September, the judge said Epic “was not honest” in his approach, but he also said that Epic had the right to depose Apple CEO Tim Cook for seven hours. Apple initially argued that Cook shouldn’t have to testify before offering four hours. Epic asked for eight hours and got seven.
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