Auckland, California. (CN) – A federal judge has rejected two counterclaims filed by Apple Pal against FortNite manufacturer Epic Games, challenging the practice of taking a 30% cut on all in-app purchases by Fort Paul in an anti-trust lawsuit against popular game online game maker.
U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers also ruled in Apple’s favor, saying “there is no basis for this.”
Epic Games sued Apple Pay and Google after tech companies removed Fortnight from their app stores due to an ongoing controversy over the commission.
The legal controversy began when Epic encouraged its users to pay directly for in-game upgrades instead of using Apple Plus, which receives a 30% commission on all app payments through its app store.
That policy is at the heart of many lawsuits filed by app developers who claim that Apple Pal uses its App Store to gain monopoly power in the market.
Apple Play resisted breach of contract, claiming it was trying to defy the rules of the Epic App Store so as not to pay millions of dollars in commissions. Apple Paul says it owes Fortnite content for sale. According to Apple Paul, Epic breached the agreement by launching a payment system in its own app.
In its lawsuit, Apple Paul also accused Epic of potential economic gain and intentional interference in the conversion.
In a motion for a ruling on arguments filed before Tuesday’s hearing, Epic said: “The judgment rejecting these claims will ensure that the case focuses on the validity of Apple’s agreements and practices. These are issues on which Epic’s claims and Apple’s contract-based counterclaims depend. “
On Tuesday, Gonzalez Rogers told Apple Paul’s attorney Anna Casey that the tech giant was “at a loss.”
“I do not believe you are doing anything wrong here. I said it before and I am saying it today, “said Gonzalez Rogers.
Regarding Apple Paul’s claim of intentional interference, Gonzalez Rogers told Casey, “You can’t just say that – you have to have the facts that support it, and you don’t.”
The judge also said Apple failed to show ownership or possession rights as required for the conversion claim.
Casey compared Epic to hackers and said the game company had “funds that should be in Apple’s possession.”
“Epic has misappropriated funds that should be in Apple’s hands,” Casey said.
But Gonzalez Rogers notes that Apple doesn’t have the funding, which belongs to Epic – Apple Pal is only entitled to a 30% cut.
He added: “30% is in dispute.”
At last month’s hearing, Gonzalez Rogers refused to reinstall Epic’s Fortnight game on Epic’s App Store. The case is likely to be heard sometime next year.
Epic’s attorneys, Casey and John Carin, did not return email requests for comment via Press Time.
A spokesman for Apple Pal said in a statement that the company commented on Epic’s conduct “could be prosecuted under California’s corrosion laws.”
The statement continued, “It is clear that Epic has breached its agreement with Apple Pal.” “Described by the court as deceptive and spy, Epic enabled a feature in its app that has not been reviewed or approved by Apple Pal, and they did so with the clear intent of violating the App Store guidelines that apply equally to every developer who sells digitally. Goods and services. His reckless behavior became the pawns of the customers, and we will wait until next May to get him right in court. ”
