Grab your popcorn, everyone: there’s a new development in the legal battle over the Epic Games vs Apple Fortnite. This time, it’s Apple swinging mud, in a newly filed lawsuit in which it asks that Epic not get its requested emergency restraining order.
The latest court document, which came to light today, contains Apple’s defense against both the intelligence and the case in general in a nutshell. Apple feels that Epic has the benefits of accessing the App Store within the limits set by Apple, but has now “decided that it would rather enjoy the benefits of the App Store without paying for it.” It also insists that Epic’s desire for emergency action, which Apple would stop other companies from accessing their (Apple’s) development tools, is trying to get the courts to do what Epic itself is causing:
[Temporary restraining orders] exist to repair irreparable damage, to cause non-repairable injuries … Any injury that Epic could inflict on itself, players, and developers if Epic filed its lawsuit without breaking its agreements. All those alleged injuries causing Epic to seek ill-treatment tomorrow could disappear if Epic healed his burglary.
Apple said its position on overhauling Epic’s payment method was similar to store lifting: “If developers can avoid digital checkout, it’s the same as if a customer left an Apple store without paying for store lift products: Apple does not get paid. Apple also adds that it is hardly alone in this regard, citing that “Google’s Play Store, the Amazon Appstore, and the Microsoft Store, and many video game digital marketplaces such as Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, and Steam” are all similar. have policies.
Apple even mentions that Epic’s recent feline move, in which it runs a sort of anti-Apple run Fortnite tournament to coax iOS players on other platforms reveals that Apple’s alleged anti-trust actions have damaged the game: “It easily ignores that Fortnite can be played on various platforms with or without Apple support, even if Epic indicates that fact in its advertising and communication to users. “
Honestly, I could offer to quote from all these legal documents. I love the hell out of this passive aggression and these digging together. This is a legal battle between two very large, very rich companies who are arguing over who gets access to a giant pile of money. What can the plebeians like us do but laugh?
Originally, Apple maintained the view that this was something that the two companies could sort out, and that it was ready to go to the table with Epic Games to sort out this situation. But the tone in the new court documents makes it appear that Apple is no longer so sinful about resolving this issue – probably because Epic is going all-in on its crusade.
In addition to filing the lawsuit, Apple has provided several emails as evidence. The emails, between Epic and Apple execs, are meant to shed light on how the fight got so far, and what both companies did. According to Apple, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney emailed the company more than once, asking for permission to put the payment option on the app. The emails are rather … non-heartfelt.
Whether you come across Team Apple or Team Epic – or, hell, even if you do not come down on both sides – you have to admit that it’s rather interesting to see the two companies go after each other. They do not pull their punches, and both apparently believe they have the ethical high ground, but eventually one of them will have to be filled. Add the poison of your choice here.
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