Original story: Epic has expanded its ongoing legal battle against Apple and Google by filing new complaints in the UK.
The US company has filed a lawsuit in the Competition Court against each of the owners of the mobile platform, alleging that both have “abused [their] dominant position “in the market and” dedicated to anti-competitive agreements / concerted practices “in both the UK and the EU.
The two lawsuits against Apple and Google are the latest step in Epic Games ’campaign to restore Fortnite to app stores and change the way mobile ecosystems work.
The filings were filed on Dec. 8 and 29, respectively, but only this week has the Court made them public.
In August, Epic Games added direct payment options to Fortnite for mobile, avoiding the 30% commission that both Apple and Google require as part of their development agreements.
Both companies withdrew Fortnite from their markets, to which Epic responded with antitrust lawsuits.
Now, the firm is appealing to the Competition Court to rule that Fortnite’s removal from these stores was illegal, as certain terms of its development agreements are.
Epic Games also wants Fortnite to be restored in both stores and allowed to offer users the option of direct payments.
The requests are largely similar, but there are some variations on Epic’s requests depending on the differences between the way the two markets operate.
In the case of Apple, Epic wants an order that prevents the company from restricting the download of Epic Games Store to any Apple device in the UK and an order that forces Apple to remove the requirement that all software be downloaded and manage all payments. in the App Store.
Meanwhile, Epic is asking the Court to order Google to stop imposing the pre-installation of Google Play on all Android devices in the UK and requires phone manufacturers to prioritize this store over others.
It also wants Google to stop manufacturers from having agreements with Epic to pre-install Epic Games Store.
Neither the archive seeks damages or financial reparations, although it does request “another reparation or any other reparation that the Court deems appropriate.”
In November, a judge dismissed Apple’s claims that Epic was guilty of theft as part of that dispute, and said the battle should focus on breach of contract and antitrust claims.
Later that month, Apple reduced the in-app free sales and in-app commission to 15% for developers earning less than $ 1 million a year.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney responded that his company “is not fighting for a lower commission,” but for “fair competition between mobile platform companies, stores, and payment processors.”
The trial between Epic and Apple should take place in May. Epic suggested a lawsuit in February against Google, which the Internet giant tried to push toward October, which the judge rejected.
The judge overseeing the Epic vs Apple case has warned that his ruling could have “serious ramifications” for Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox, which also operate “walled garden” ecosystems.
Update:GamesIndustry.biz has received a statement from Epic Games, adding that it will present its case in Court on January 21st.
“We believe this is an important argument to make on behalf of consumers and developers in the UK and around the world who are affected by the misuse of market power by Apple and Google,” said Tera Randall , vice president of communications and politics.
“Epic is not looking for damages from Apple or Google in the UK, Australia or the US, but is simply looking for fair access and competition that benefits all consumers.”
Update 2: Apple has also issued a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, in which the company said:
For twelve years, the App Store has helped developers turn their brightest ideas into world-changing apps. Our priorities have always been to provide customers with a safe and reliable place to download software and apply the same rules to all developers. Epic has been one of the most successful developers in the App Store, becoming a multimillion-dollar business that reaches millions of iOS customers worldwide, including the UK.
“In a way that a judge has described as misleading and clandestine, Epic enabled a feature on its app that Apple did not review or approve and did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines that apply equally to all developers Their reckless behavior turned pawns into customers and we hope to make it clear in the UK courts. ??