Original Story: Epic has expanded its legal battle against Apple and Google, filing new complaints in the UK.
The American company filed a lawsuit in the Competition Appeal Court against each of the mobile platform holders, alleging that both “abused [their] dominant position “on the market and” involved in anti-competitive agreements / concerted practices “in the UK and the EU.
The two lawsuits against Apple and Google are the latest step in Epic Games’ campaign to restore Fortnite to app stores and change the way mobile ecosystems operate.
The requests were filed on December 8 and 29, respectively, but only this week were released by the Court.
In August, Epic Games added direct payment options to Fortnite on mobile, avoiding the 30% commission that Apple and Google require as part of their developer contracts.
Both companies then removed Fortnite from their markets, to which Epic responded with antitrust lawsuits.
The company is now appealing to the Competition Appeal Court to decide that removing Fortnite from these stores was illegal, as well as certain terms in its developer contracts.
Epic Games also wants Fortnite to be restored in both stores and can offer users the option of direct payments.
The records are very similar, but there are some variations in Epic’s orders based on differences between the way the two markets operate.
In the case of Apple, Epic wants an order preventing the company from restricting downloading from the Epic Games Store to any Apple device in the UK, and an order requiring Apple to remove the requirement that all software must be downloaded and all payments handled by the App Store.
In the meantime, Epic is asking the Court to order Google to stop imposing pre-installation of Google Play on all Android devices in the UK and demanding that phone manufacturers prioritize this store over others.
He also wants Google to stop preventing manufacturers from making deals with Epic about pre-installing the Epic Games Store.
No claim for damages or financial relief, although it does request “additional or other relief as the Court may deem appropriate.”
In November, a judge dismissed Apple’s claims that Epic was guilty of theft as part of that dispute, rather than saying that the battle should focus on breach of contract and antitrust allegations.
Later that month, Apple reduced the free commission on sales and in-app purchases to 15% for developers who earn less than $ 1 million a year.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney responded that his company “is not fighting for a lower commission”, but for “fair competition between mobile platform companies, stores and payment processors”.
The trial between Epic and Apple is expected to take place in May. Epic suggested a February trial against Google, which the internet giant tried to postpone until October – something the judge rejected.
The judge who oversaw the Epic vs. Apple case warned that his decision could have “serious ramifications” for Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox, which also operate ‘walled garden’ ecosystems.
Update:GamesIndustry.biz received a statement from Epic Games, adding that it will present its case to the court on January 21.
“We believe this is an important argument to be made on behalf of consumers and developers in the UK and around the world who are affected by the misuse of market power by Apple and Google,” said the vice president of communications and politics, Tera Randall.
“Epic is not seeking damages from Apple or Google in the UK, Australia or the United States, it is simply seeking fair access and competition that will benefit all consumers.”
Update 2: Apple also released a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, in which the company said:
?? For twelve years, the App Store has been helping developers turn their brightest ideas into world-changing apps. Our priorities have always been to provide customers with a safe and reliable place to download software and apply the rules equally to all developers. 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 the UK.
“In ways that a judge described as misleading and clandestine, Epic has enabled a feature in its application 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 clients. Their reckless behavior has become pawns for clients, and we look forward to making that clear to the UK courts.