The battle between Epic and Apple is still on the surface, but now in court. After the decision to remove Fortnite from the App Store permanently by removing the developer account to Epic, they are now looking to return to normal. But Apple is not going to make it easy at all, since it has started a counterclaim against Epic to pay for all the damages caused as a result of the breach of contract. We tell you all the details about this new legal battle that has started.
Apple launches new court case against Epic
Currently Apple and Epic are fully involved in a legal contest to decide whether Fortnite returns to the App Store or not. But in parallel, the Cupertino company has filed a new surprise lawsuit to recover the money that Epic has not wanted to pay Apple . In the judicial presentation they have made it clear that this lawsuit arises from a disagreement over the income that Epic has obtained thanks to the App Store and all the tools offered.
The lawsuit contains some claims that may seem quite harsh. Specifically, Apple calls Epic a ‘modern corporate Robin Hood’ that has billions of dollars behind it. Despite having a gigantic income, they refuse to pay absolutely nothing in exchange for the value they get from the App Store. From the company of the bitten apple they affirm that Epic cannot have the special treatment they demand since it collects several billion dollars in commissions while users pay $ 100 for virtual currency packages. This is why Apple fragrantly accuses Epic of taking advantage of App Store tools for years to profit without paying anything for them. What the Cupertino company is looking for is that payments be made through its own system or through the purchase of gift cards from the App Store.
Specifically, Epic has used more than 400 APIs and frameworks and has reviewed its applications more than 200 times. To all this is added the great publicity that has been done to Fortnite within the App Store and with favorable tweets. All this has a considerable cost for which no type of payment would have been received that the Cupertino company now claims.
In short, Apple has not liked anything at all that from Epic they included direct payment by surprise. That is why they demand a payment for damages and an order so that Epic cannot repeat this commercial practice. In the lawsuit itself, they categorize this movement as ‘deliberate, shameless and illegal conduct’.
Epic not willing to give in to Apple
From Epic they continue to affirm that they are the heroes in the situation. In the documentation that they have presented to defend themselves, they believe that they were the most financially prepared to be able to face this legal fight for it and for other developers. That is why they are not going to back down by withdrawing the direct payment option even if it violates the policies of the App Store. But this does not mean that they recognize that the possibility that Fortnite does not return to the App Store will cause them to suffer irreparable damage.
What the company behind Fortnite is looking for is for this game to continue in the App Store but in breach of policies, that is, with direct payment. This is something that may not occur although it is up to the judges to rule in favor of one side or the other right now. The fact that there are conditions that were accepted at the time is possible that it goes against them and in the end they may have to give in and withdraw the direct payment of their game.
