Original story: Epic has expanded its ongoing legal battle against Apple and Google by filing new complaints in the UK.
The US company filed a lawsuit in the Competition Court of Appeal against each of the owners of the mobile platform, claiming that they both “abused” [their] dominant position “on the market and” engaged in anti-competitive agreements / concerted practices “in both the United Kingdom and the EU.
The two lawsuits against Apple and Google are the latest step in the Epic Games campaign to restore Fortnite in app stores and change the way mobile ecosystems work.
The applications were lodged on 8 and 29 December respectively, but were made public only this week by the General Court.
In August, Epic Games added direct payment options to Fortnite on mobile, avoiding the 30% commission charged by both Apple and Google as part of their developer agreements.
Both companies then removed Fortnite from their markets, to which Epic responded with antitrust lawsuits.
The company is now asking the Competition Court to decide that removing Fortnite from these stores was illegal, as are certain conditions in their development agreements.
Epic Games wants Fortnite to be restored in both stores and allowed to offer users the option of direct payments.
Deposits are largely similar, but there are some variations in Epic’s claims based on the differences between how the two markets work.
In the case of Apple, Epic wants an order to prevent the company from restricting the download of the Epic Game Store to any Apple device in the UK and an order asking Apple to lift the requirement that all software be downloaded and all payments managed through the App Store.
Meanwhile, Epic is asking the Court to order Google to stop pre-installing Google Play on all Android devices in the UK and is asking phone manufacturers to prioritize this store over others.
He also wants Google to stop preventing manufacturers from entering into agreements with Epic to pre-install the Epic game store.
No case seeks financial compensation or exemption, although it does not claim “an additional or other exemption which the Court considers appropriate”.
In November, a judge dismissed Apple’s claims that Epic was guilty of theft as part of the dispute, saying instead that the battle should focus on breach of contract and antitrust claims.
Later that month, Apple reduced the free sales and in-app purchase fee to 15% for developers earning 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 lawsuit between Epic and Apple is set to take place in May. Epic suggested a February lawsuit against Google, which the internet giant tried to push back in October – which the judge rejected.
The judge overseeing the Epic vs Apple case warned that his ruling could have “serious ramifications” for Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox, which also operate “built-in garden” ecosystems.
Update:GamesIndustry.biz he received a statement from Epic Games, adding that he will present his case to the Court on January 21.
“We believe this is an important argument to make 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 Vice President of Communications and Policy Tera Randall.
“Epic is not looking for Apple or Google damages in the UK, Australia or the US, but is simply looking for fair access and competition for the benefit of all consumers.”
Update 2: Apple also released a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, in which the company said:
?? For twelve years, the App Store has helped 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 was one of the most successful developers on the App Store, becoming 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 activated an app in its app that was not reviewed or approved by Apple and did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines that applies equally to every developer and protects Their reckless behavior has made customers pawns and we look forward to clarifying this to UK courts. ??