Apple vs Epic: the appeal trial should not take long

While the year 2020 was shaken by the pandemic, another major scandal felt like a real earthquake in the world of new technologies. Indeed,Apple and video game giant Epic Gamesopposed each other in a legal battle, but also in the media. The firm that owns the game Fortnite criticized Apple for being anti-competitive and forcing the firm to use Apple's payment service for all purchases made via the App Store.

The big point of contention ultimately concerns Apple's commission, 30% on each payment, which caused Epic Games to lose a real fortune while its mobile game brought in millions. In order to put an end to this situation, Epic Games therefore entered into a legal war with Apple.

Apple: not totally winning but satisfied

A battle that ended with a resounding trial, from which no one really came out a winner. Indeed, if Epic Games is often presented as the loser, given that the firm had to compensate Apple, the Apple brand had an obligation to modify its App Store payment system, a way of proving right Epic Games on the merits.

While a second trial should open on appeal shortly, the two companies have filed their opening files with the court which will be responsible for deciding the case. If Epic Games had already submitted its paper in January, Apple has just done so.

In this file, the Cupertino company takes up and dismantles Epic Games' arguments. According to Apple, there was no miscarriage of justice during the first trial, but Epic Games simply lacked evidence in its argument. Apple explains: “Epic built its case on witnesses who lacked credibility.”

Apple and Epic: two opposing visions of the same trial

Further on we can also read that Epic has never “succeeded in convincing” according to Apple, which assures that the arguments put forward by the parent company of Fortnite are erroneous. Still according to Apple, the first court decision was the right one, and there is no reason for this appeal to go against it.

As a reminder, Epic Games had assured the opposite in its file transmitted to the United States Court of Appeal. The brand regretted a “judicial error” which would have saved Apple from punishment. While both companies were unhappy with the verdict, Apple appears to be the party that has coped better with it.