The battle between Apple and Epic Games is about to get ugly.
Apple on Friday asked a judge to block Epic’s request for a temporary restraining order allowing video game maker Fortnite to return to the App Store on its own terms.
It’s the latest twist in a legal and PR battle that has pitted one of the gaming industry’s biggest players against the most valuable company in the world. That battle, which comes as Apple faces anti-trust control from the U.S. government and abroad, also underscores questions about the power of the iPhone giant.
In Apple’s latest argument, which comes before a court hearing on Monday, the company claims that Epic has no legal grounds to return the way to Apple’s marketplace until it agrees to play by the rules that Apple always follows. for developers has set.
The standoff between the two companies began this month, when Epic installed its own payment system in “Fortnite.” The move was a deliberate attempt to overhaul Apple’s in-app payment system to avoid the 30 percent commission the tech giant has long demanded from companies using its service.
Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store. Epic Games anticipated the move, responding by prosecuting the company for anti-competitive behavior. Since then, Apple has threatened to terminate all of Epic’s Developer Accounts and block the company from creating new apps, unless it agrees to pay the standard 30 percent commission.
Earlier this week, Epic asked the judge to oversee the case to give it a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Apple, which would force Apple to reinstate “Fortnite” in the App Store and allow Epic its own payment system to be executed until the trial is resolved.
Apple requests that Epic’s request be denied, in particular on the grounds that Epic brought these circumstances upon itself.
“TROs exist to repair irreparable damage, not easily repairable injuries with self,” Apple’s attorneys said in the new legal filing. “Any injury that Epic claims to himself, players, and developers could have been avoided if Epic filed its lawsuit without breaking its agreements.”
“All those alleged injuries causing Epic to seek emergency assistance could disappear tomorrow if Epic has healed his burglary,” the submission states.
Although Apple’s actions against Epic have been consistent with long-standing App Store policies, Epic’s opposition has raised broader questions about whether Apple should have the power to implement all the fees it wants in a market that does so. has become essential for developers and integral to the lives of so many people.
Several other large companies support Epic’s efforts. Spotify, which has its own legal battles with Apple over the 30 percent fee, announced support for Epic last week. Facebook has also collaborated on that bandwagon, accusing Apple of harassing small businesses by refusing to pay commission fees during the coronavirus pandemic.
Several other large companies support Epic’s efforts. Spotify, which has its own legal battles with Apple over the 30 percent fee, announced support for Epic last week. Facebook has also collaborated on that bandwagon, accusing Apple of harassing small businesses by refusing to pay commission fees during the coronavirus pandemic.
