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A federal judge in California will decide if Apple should be forced to put Fortnite back on its App Store while a general lawsuit develops.
SAN FRANCISCO – Epic Games will go to great lengths again Monday to convince a judge that its hit Fortnite title should be restored on Apple’s App Store, despite circumventing the tech titan’s standard transaction fee.
Apple doesn’t allow users of its popular devices to download apps from anywhere other than its App Store, and Epic is challenging its practice of taking 30 percent of the money spent on apps by users.
The crash comes as Apple prioritizes the sale of digital content and subscription services to more than 1 billion people around the world who use devices powered by its iOS mobile operating software.
The commission dispute has also become a rallying cry for app makers who believe Apple’s App Store policies are monopolistic.
Major app developers, including Epic and streaming music giant Spotify, recently formed a coalition to push for new terms with major online marketplaces operated by Apple and Google.
Google has a Play Store for apps designed for devices that run on its Android software and it also charges a commission, but people can get apps from other places online.
The new advocacy group Coalition for App Fairness said it will seek legal and regulatory changes for app stores that serve as gatekeepers for much of the mobile software distributed to smartphone users.
The move comes amid mounting criticism of app store fees and terms, and legal challenges from both Epic and Spotify to Apple’s commission for online subscriptions.
A hearing scheduled for Monday before a federal judge in California will focus on whether Apple should be forced to put Fortnite back on the App Store while a blanket lawsuit develops.
Apple pulled Fortnite from its online mobile app marketplace on August 13 after Epic released an update that prevents revenue sharing with the iPhone maker.
The judge in the case previously rejected an emergency injunction request from Epic, saying that Apple’s eviction of Fortnite was a “self-inflicted injury.”
But Epic did not back down in its fight against Apple, accusing the tech giant of being “a monopolist.”
Due to the legal dispute, Fortnite fans using iPhones or other Apple devices no longer have access to the latest updates to the game, including the new season released in late August.
