Big Tech is facing its biggest challenge in decades as antitrust regulators on both sides of the Atlantic crack down on alleged anti-competitive practices that could result in break-up orders to Apple and Alphabet's Google, a first for the industry.
07.03.2024 - 23:25 / comingsoon.net
European regulators may soon weigh in on the ongoing dispute between tech giant. Apple blocking Epic from launching a separate game store on iOS may violate EU rules that went into effect last year.
As the Associated Press reports, the European Commission “requested further explanations” regarding whether Apple is complying with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The Commission is also concerned whether the company can be trusted to follow other EU guidelines. This comes in response to the tech giant preventing Epic from releasing a separate game store on iPhone.
The act seeks to regulate tech monopolies headed by six corporations designated as industry “gatekeepers.” Along with Apple, these are Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and TikTok owner ByteDance. Among other things, the new rules require Apple to let European iPhone users download apps from third-party sources.
According to a statement from Epic Games, Apple recently terminated Epic Games Sweden’s developer account. This prevents it from launching an Epic Game Store app for users in the EU. This, Epic alleges, is a direct violation of the Digital Markets Act. Epic also alleges that the iPhone maunfactrer banned its account in retaliation for Epic CEO Tim Sweeny criticizing Apple publicly. If so, the tech giant may also have violated another EU law prohibiting companies from enforcing their terms and conditions arbitrarily.
“In terminating Epic’s developer account,” the publisher wrote, “Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store. They are undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and they are showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.”
Big Tech is facing its biggest challenge in decades as antitrust regulators on both sides of the Atlantic crack down on alleged anti-competitive practices that could result in break-up orders to Apple and Alphabet's Google, a first for the industry.
The Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general filed a massive lawsuit against Apple on Thursday morning, accusing the company of monopolistic smartphone practices. Meanwhile, Fortnite maker Epic Games has been accusing Apple’s iOS App Store of antitrust violations for years in an ongoing, arduous legal battle.
The European Union has targeted Apple over the past few years for monopolistic and anti-competitive practices, forcing the company to allow alternate app stores and other features in the EU. Now, the United States government is suing Apple on similar grounds.
Epic Games Inc., the developer behind the popular Fortnite franchise, announced plans for a mobile online store on the iOS and Android platforms.
Epic Games has announced that the Epic Games Store is coming to iOS and Android devices later this year. The Epic Games Store's mobile expansion will allow the storefront to function across all major, non-console platforms.
Toxicity is a serious issue that players expect studios of online games to address. New legal regulations are also demanding studios do more to protect their players or face hefty fines.
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Apple made a major concession in its battle to protect the dominance of its App Store on iPhones and other devices in Europe on Tuesday, saying developers will be free to distribute their apps directly to consumers.
Under pressure from European regulators, Apple took a step back in its feud with Epic Games on Friday, clearing the way for Epic to put its own game store on iPhones and iPads in Europe.
Under pressure from European regulators, Apple took a step back in its feud with Epic Games on Friday, clearing the way for Epic Games to put its own game store on iPhones and iPads in Europe. Earlier this week, Apple had taken steps to block Epic from starting up a store and bringing back the popular game Fortnite, which Apple removed from its App Store in 2020 after Epic broke the iPhone maker's in-app payment rules in protest.
In a new turn of events, Apple has reversed course on terminating Epic Games’ developer accounts with its services. According to an update on the Epic Games blog, Apple has stated that Epic Games developer account will be reinstated.
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