Responding to Epic Games’ bold suit against Apple (and separately against Google) — alleging anticompetitive operation of the Apple Store — the computer and mobile device giant says Epic violated store rules and that Fortnite should remain off the virtual shelves until the dispute is resolved.
See MoginRubin co-founder Jonathan Rubin‘s previous post, Raising New Questions re Antitrust Oversight, Epic Games Sues Apple, Google for Blocking ‘Fortnite’ App.
In opposing Epic’s motion for a temporary restraining order, Apple says the game maker became a multi-billion-dollar enterprise in part because of the opportunities availed to it by the Apple Store, and with the help of massive investments from Chinese tech giant Tencent. “Now, having decided that it would rather enjoy the benefits of the App Store without paying for them, Epic has breached its contracts with Apple, using its own customers and Apple’s users as leverage.”
Epic seeks relief for an emergency it created, Apple says. Epic’s agreements with Apple state that if an app developer violates the rules, and works to deceive the company, Apple will terminate them. “So when Epic willfully and knowingly breached its agreements by secretly installing a ‘hotfix’ into its app to bypass Apple’s payment system and App Review Process, it knew full well what would happen and, in so doing, has knowingly and purposefully created the harm to game players and developers it now asks the Court to step in and remedy.”
Also see MoginRubin Partner Jennifer M. Oliver‘s post: App Developer Chronicles His Saga with Apple’s “Anti-Competitive” Store.