Apple has come under scrutiny in the European Union for its strict App Store rules that restrict external payment options, sideloading of apps and more. The iPhone maker and other tech giants like Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and more, however, have had to bring in several changes to their policies since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into effect for the companies in March. Now, Apple will allow game emulator apps on the App Store.
Microsoft, Meta and X Join Fortnite Maker Epic Games' Battle Against Apple
21.03.2024 - 10:05 / gadgets.ndtv.com / App Store
Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Elon Musk's X and Match Group on Wednesday joined "Fortnite" video game maker Epic Games' protest that Apple has failed to honor a court-ordered injunction governing payments in its lucrative App Store.
The technology companies, which developed some of the most popular apps in the App Store, said Apple was in "clear violation" of the Sept. 2021 injunction by making it difficult to steer consumers to cheaper means to pay for digital content.
Apple declined to comment specifically on the accusation, which was contained in a filing with the Oakland, California federal court.
It referred to its Jan. 16 statement that it had fully complied with the injunction, which it said would protect consumers and "the integrity of Apple's ecosystem" while ensuring that developers do not get a free ride.
Epic had sued Apple in 2020, saying it violated antitrust law by requiring consumers to obtain apps through the App Store and charging developers up to 30% commissions on purchases.
The injunction required Apple to let developers provide links and buttons to direct consumers to alternative payment options.
Last week, Epic demanded that Apple be held in contempt, saying new rules and a new 27% fee on developers made the links effectively useless.
In Wednesday's filing, the technology companies said Apple's conduct "for all practical purposes" entrenches anti-steering rules that the court found illegal, propping up Apple's "excessive" commissions and harming consumers and developers.
"Apple's restrictions on where and how developers can communicate with their users about their options for purchasing in-app content create significant barriers to competition and artificially inflate prices," the filing said.
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear Apple's appeal from the injunction. It also decided against hearing Epic's appeal of lower court findings that Apple's policies did not violate federal antitrust law.
Apple has until April 3 to formally respond to Epic's filing. The company is based in Cupertino, California, while Epic is based in Cary, North Carolina.
The case is Epic Games Inc v Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 20-05640.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The website gametalkz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Authors
Popular Topics
gamerant.com
07.04.2024 / 02:25
Red Dead Online Players Recreate Peter Pan and Captain Hook in the Game
Two Red Dead Online players have shared their awesome characters in the game, which have been created to resemble Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Even though Red Dead Online doesn’t receive updates very often anymore, the game’s community remains committed to showing off what players can create in the game.
gamerant.com
30.03.2024 / 17:29
A Bunch of EA Games Just Got Added to the Epic Games Store
The Epic Games Store recently saw the addition of several older games from EA, including multiple entries from the Need for Speed and Battlefield franchises. Standing as one of the most popular online marketplaces for games, Epic Games has often looked for ways to help its storefront stand out from major competitors like Steam. Epic Games regularly features free games for users to claim through the storefront, often giving away popular games like The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas. Now, the storefront has added multiple EA games to its lineup.
gamesindustry.biz
25.03.2024 / 15:11
EU Commission investigates Google, Meta, and Apple for possible Digital Markets Act violations
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
tech.hindustantimes.com
23.03.2024 / 05:15
US lawsuit against Apple could make iPhone experience more consumer-friendly | Explained
The U.S. has filed a lawsuit against Apple with the aim of increasing competition for the iPhone and giving a leg up to smaller companies whose apps work with the ubiquitous device.
wowhead.com
22.03.2024 / 17:37
Dragonflight Season 3: Break the Meta and Meta vs Meta by Raider.IO
As we near the end of Dragonflight Season 3, Raider.IO has partnered with Blizzard to host another Beak the Meta competitive Mythic+ dungeon event, and with a special twist! While off-meta specs will still compete against one another, Havoc and Vengeance players will participate in an exclusive Meta vs. Meta bracket available only to groups made up entirely of Demon Hunters! Starting April 2nd, both groups will compete for prestige and prizes, including the exclusive Dreaming Banner of the Aspects! Registration is currently open and will close at 11:59pm PDT on April 20th, 2024. Register for Break the MetaLearn More on Raider.IO
tech.hindustantimes.com
21.03.2024 / 15:53
Fortnite maker Epic Games will open store on iOS, Android platforms this year
Epic Games Inc., the developer behind the popular Fortnite franchise, announced plans for a mobile online store on the iOS and Android platforms.
tech.hindustantimes.com
21.03.2024 / 02:04
Meta Platforms, Microsoft, X corp band together against Apple’s app store plans
Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corp., X Corp. and Match Group Inc. asked a federal judge to reject Apple Inc.'s plan for opening its App Store to outside payment options.
gamesindustry.biz
19.03.2024 / 15:37
Dark and Darker coming to Epic Games Store following injunction dismissal
A year after being removed from Steam, Ironmace's Dark and Darker will be available on the Epic Games Store.
gamesradar.com
18.03.2024 / 20:59
RuneScape creator says his new game is "not a traditional MMO where you play, get to the endgame, and that's where the game actually starts"
Brighter Shores, the upcoming MMO from original RuneScape creator and Jagex founder Andrew Gower, loosely channels RuneScape in its focus on relaxing grinds, a mix of idle gameplay, and branching professions. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Gower touched on another similarity with Old School RuneScape especially: "It is more about the journey than it is about the endgame."
eurogamer.net
18.03.2024 / 15:07
Dark and Darker heads to Epic Games Store, but no word on Steam return
Dark and Darker is heading to Epic Games Store, having previously been removed from Steam, and following a drawn out legal dispute with Nexon.
pcgamesinsider.biz
15.03.2024 / 03:37
Fortnite developers complain about constant crunch and huge working hours at Epic Games
Late capitalism strikes again - developers at Epic working on Fortnite are still crunching, despite the battle royale title being one of the biggest games in the world.