Apple concedes in its legal battle with Epic Games, allowing the return of Fortnite and its app store on iPhones and iPads in response to regulatory pressure from Europe.
This comes after Apple’s recent move to prevent Epic from creating a store and bringing back Fortnite, removed from the App Store in 2020 due to Epic’s violation of in-app payment rules in protest against Apple.
Positive Results from DMA
The decision by Apple to reconsider its stance comes in response to the European Union’s Thursday deadline for major tech companies to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA aims to curtail the control exercised by Apple and Google over app distribution on devices with iOS and Android operating systems.
On Twitter, EU industry chief Thierry Breton praised Apple’s reversal and expressed happiness that the Digital Markets Act is already yielding tangible results in its early days. In 2020, Epic Games accused Apple of breaking US antitrust laws by imposing excessive commissions on in-app purchases, which sparked a legal dispute between the two companies.
Despite Epic losing the court battle and facing a ban from Apple’s devices, the recent developments suggest a potential thaw in their strained relationship. Unlike other Apple critics who haven’t intentionally violated the company’s rules, Epic Games faced repercussions for its bold protest.
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Apple’s Confirmation After Talks with Epic
Apple reinstated Epic Games’ developer account on Friday, just two days after blocking the company from launching its online marketplace on iPhones and iPads in Europe. Epic Games, undeterred by past challenges, announced its plans to proceed with bringing the Epic Games store and Fortnite back to iOS in the continent.
The company sees this as a positive signal from the European Commission, indicating swift enforcement of the Digital Markets Act and a commitment to holding tech gatekeepers accountable.
Apple clarified that its decision to terminate Epic’s account earlier in the week was based on doubts about the company’s intention to comply with the new rules outlined by Apple to align with the DMA.
Following conversations with Epic, Apple confirmed the commitment to follow the rules, leading to the reinstatement of Epic Sweden AB into the Apple Developer Program. The recent dispute also brought attention to Apple’s developer accounts, emphasizing their importance as a necessary step for developers before selling apps on Apple devices.
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