Microsoft, Meta, X, and Spotify file legal brief supporting Epic Games fight against Apple

[DragonSlayer101]

What just happened? Epic Games has for years been fighting against Apple's policies that require developers to pay the tech giant up to 30 percent of their revenues on every purchase made through the App Store. Now, Epic has found legal support from some of the biggest tech companies in the world, including Microsoft, Meta, Spotify, X (formerly Twitter), and Match Group.

The aforementioned companies have reportedly filed an amicus brief (via WSJ) in the Epic vs Apple case, stating that the latter was in "clear violation" of the court injunction forcing Apple to enable third-party payment options on iOS. According to their filing, Apple made it intentionally harder for iOS users to use cheaper means to pay for digital content.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney had earlier blasted Apple for what he claimed was the firm's "malicious compliance" with the requirements of the European Union's Digital Markets Act. According to Sweeney, Apple was forcing users to choose the "illegal" Apple App Store exclusivity or be saddled with anti-competitive junk fees on downloads and Apple taxes on payments processed by third-party platforms.

The bad blood between Apple and Epic Games started several years ago, when Epic complained that the Cupertino giant was allegedly violating US antitrust laws by requiring consumers to download apps exclusively through its App Store and charging developers up to 30 percent commissions on every transaction.

Epic finally sued Apple in 2020 after the tech giant removed Fortnite from the App Store in retaliation for Epic receiving payments through third-party payment processors. Apple was subsequently compelled to allow developers to accept payments through third-party channels following a ruling by the US District Court of the Northern District of California.

While the ruling was binding in the US, the EU's Digital Markets Act also forced the company to offer third-party payment options in Europe. Additionally, the DMA regulations stipulate that Apple must allow its customers in the EU to download apps from alternative digital stores. However, Apple has since announced that it will charge a 27 percent fee for app publishers processing payments through third-party platforms, leading to howls of protest from developers around the world.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/102347-microsoft-meta-spotify-x-file-legal-brief-supporting.html

 

[DubiousFishHook]

And the world is saved.

 

[The Talking Tech]

It's time for Apple to understand the word "anticompetitive" has a meaning and major consequences for them as well.

 

[Kashim]

It's time for Apple to understand the word "anticompetitive" has a meaning and major consequences for them as well.

Sure, try telling that to all the Apple fanboys who feel Apple can do no wrong. Can you imagine if Microsoft tried doing what Apple is doing? If you could only install apps on Windows directly form the MS store and you could only buy PCs directly from MS...

 

[The Talking Tech]

Sure, try telling that to all the Apple fanboys who feel Apple can do no wrong. Can you imagine if Microsoft tried doing what Apple is doing? If you could only install apps on Windows directly form the MS store and you could only buy PCs directly from MS...

You are absolutely right, and it seems like the hammer is finally coming down on Apple from every front in the U.S and Europe with China also no longer being Apple friendly.

 

[Uncle Al]

Between this and DOJ's anti-trust cases against Apple, they are in for a fight and I predict an upper management change in the next 24 months ....

 

[ZedRM]

Between this and DOJ's anti-trust cases against Apple, they are in for a fight and I predict an upper management change in the next 24 months ....

It's been said by many, Tim Cook needs to go.

 

[bviktor]

It's time for Apple to understand the word "anticompetitive" has a meaning and major consequences for them as well.

Yup, we must protect the billions of dollars of Epic Games at all costs, even at the cost of sacrificing user protections on Apple platforms.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Yup, we must protect the billions of dollars of Epic Games at all costs, even at the cost of sacrificing user protections on Apple platforms.

You mean at the cost of sacrificing developers' freedom on Apple devices?.... absolutely.

 

[bviktor]

Sure, try telling that to all the Apple fanboys who feel Apple can do no wrong. Can you imagine if Microsoft tried doing what Apple is doing? If you could only install apps on Windows directly form the MS store and you could only buy PCs directly from MS...

Precisely what did Apple do wrong? I LIKE my iPhone BECAUSE of its restrictions, not despite of them. Those who don't - please, by all means, go use Android. No one holds a gun to your head.

Have you EVER taken a single look at the app store guidelines? Pretty much all that's written in there is protecting ME from scumbag app developers. WHICH I LIKE AND WANT, thanks for asking.

Why do you think Android has 50 times more malware? Or Windows, for that matter? Have you ever stopped for a single moment to think about that? We have 3 decades of track record to prove it, yet people are happy to dismiss it all, always.

Easing up on App Store restrictions and NFC payments won't help the users in the slightest. Why would they? The only benefiting parties are malware creators and greedy companies like Epic Games who decided that 30% is too much and Apple doesn't deserve that much.

Apple reduced that fee to 15% for companies with less than $1m annual revenue, which is like the most pro-competition move one could do, but poor poor Epic didn't like that either, since they make BILLIONS annually.

Everyone, quick, save poor poor Epic and Tim Sweeney, they'll starve to death!

The way people are so quick to defend these malicious companies is ridiculous.

 

[bviktor]

You mean at the cost of sacrificing developers' freedom on Apple devices?.... absolutely.

And why would I want the developers to have complete freedom? Why? Seriously, what you you NOT do on an Apple device, as a developer, right now? Do you actually think developers are benevolent? All of them? Have you been living under a rock?

Btw. Epic just announced they'll also charge 12% for their own app store (10% for small businesses). I guess they're saints now.