It is this Monday, May 3, 2021 that the Californian hearings officially begin between the manufacturer of the iPhone and its major customers, Epic Games. This company has today become one of the major players in the gaming market, thanks largely to the success of its cult game Fortnite. But it was banned from iPhones by their manufacturer, for not having respected its conditions of use.
What happened? In reality, it's quite simple. On iOS, Apple charges 30% commission to developers when a user pays for an in-app purchase. So far nothing surprising: this policy has existed for more than ten years and corresponds exactly to the principle of the Google Play Store or that of other online stores such as Amazon. Except this time, the video game studio tried to circumvent this system by offering its own payment solution outside the box. Cupertino's reaction was not long in coming: the offender's developer account was suspended.
Procedure in progress
The same day, Epic Games then filed a complaint with the local court of justice in the hope of having its grievances heard. Arguments which actually fit with a debate of international scope: that of Apple's practices deemed anti-competitive. Indeed, just this weekend,the European Commission itself ordered Tim Cook's company to position itself differently.
The case against Epic, meanwhile, still appears to be at a standstill for the moment. Hearings aimed at obtaining the testimony of key executives have taken place, but do not appear to have allowed the jurors to tip one side of the scales to date. We were just able to take advantage of it to learnan unusual anecdote about… Adobe Flash Player.
Little hope for Epic?
At first glance, everything suggests that Fortnite will not be back on iPhones anytime soon if its publisher does not choose to comply with Apple's guidelines. Indeed, a court decision to force the giant's hand could set a precedent and therefore upset the entire market. However, the operation of the App Store is - we remind you - couldn't be more common. Whether you order a personalized t-shirt on Etsy, a twelve-inch one at your record store or a template on ThemeForest, the distributor benefits. It's his livelihood.
Despite everything, the opinion of certain renowned analysts allows us to go further. So, in a similar scenario which this time sees Spotify attack the Apple,some already consider her to be a loser… And you, what is your opinion on this subject?
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By : Keleops AG
