Epic Games doubles its legal battle with Apple in the UK. As first reported by Bloomberg, Epic has filed a new lawsuit in the UK alleging Apple’s decision to remove Fortnite from the App Store, saying the company is abusing its ‘dominant position’ in the market.
This is the first step in Epic’s quest to have Fortnite restored to the App Store in the UK. The company highlights three allegations against Apple, all regarding the company’s control over the iOS payment processing market.
- discuss the only channel for distributing apps to and / or the payment processing mechanism for itself for purchasing in-app content for and by consumers using iPhones and iPads
- using its position of dominance to charge unfair prices for distributing apps via the App Store and / or using the Apple IAP
- its response to Epic’s launch of price competition for in-app content purchases in Fortnite
Epic Games is seeking relief from the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK and is asking the agency to declare that Apple’s removal of Fortnite from the UK App Store is ‘illegal’. The company is also seeking an order requiring Apple to remove the third-party payment processing restriction in the app.
Other lighting requested by Epic Games:
- an order preventing Apple from taking or threatening to take further action against Epic in connection with certain changes it has made to the Fortnite iOS app
- an order that requires Apple to reset the relevant Apple Developer account
- an order preventing Apple from accessing the iOS software and / or any other Apple software, depending on the use of the App Store and / or the Apple IAP
In a statement to 9to5Mac, Tera Randall, Epic’s VP for Communications and Policy, said:
Epic Games has launched lawsuits against Apple and Google in the UK, expanding the fight to promote fair digital platform practices for consumers and developers.
The lawsuit, filed in the London Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleges that Apple and Google’s conduct in their respective app stores has been abused from a dominant position and is in breach of UK competition law. significantly reduce the distribution and payment of apps.
We believe this is an important argument to make on behalf of consumers and developers in the UK and around the world affected by Apple and Google’s abuse of market power. We look forward to hearing our case on 21 January.
Epic does not claim damages from Apple or Google in the UK, Australia or the US, but merely seeks fair access and competition that will benefit all consumers.
As a refurbishment, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store because Epic Games implemented its own payment processing system for in-app purchases that evaded Apple’s In-App Purchasing system. The two companies are currently embroiled in a legal battle, with a trial set to take place in the United States later this year.
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