Apple Explains Why It Terminated Epic's Latest Developer Account

[coredev]

It’s like Apple is just asking to get fined another billion+

Please read the article. Court decided that Apple can rightfully terminate Epic’s developer account because they violated the contract.
Why is it so difficult to see that Epic is the offending party here?

 

[hieranonymous]

Taking a step back from the particulars, Sweeney has objectively cost his company hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue and mounting legal costs. Their existing arrangement with Apple was netting them a fortune, but they got greedy and bet the farm. Apple should just buy Epic at this point, mainly for the Unreal Engine IP.

 

[iZac]

Everyone, this is classic mis-directed rage. Phil is just furious about Spotify handing Apple a $2,000,000,000 fine in the EU and he's taking it out on Epic. 😉

 

[tucupeis]

epic should pay apple to sell their stuff in apple maintained systems. Those systems are not free to build or maintain and everybody that uses them have to pay. i dont know why theres even a discussion about this fact

 

[JordanCautious]

Epic Games said that Apple terminating the Swedish developer account is a "serious violation" of the Digital Markets Act and "shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices."

Uh...Isn't this the same company that intentionally violated their contract/TOS with Apple to make a point? Last I checked, Apple isn't stopping Microsoft from bringing their App Store to iOS Devices. It's almost like this is one of the consequences of Epic's actions for taking a legal gamble. Literally. They cry when Apple violates the DMA (which is understandable in terms of their malicious compliance) but doesn't find it ironic they violated Apple's own agreement with them...which is why they are in this situation in the first place.

 

[Analog Kid]

Also stated they terminated it because of Tim Sweeney’s criticism of Apple’s implementation of DMA rules. Which doesn’t sit right.

citation?

 

[FloatingBones]

Also stated they terminated it because of Tim Sweeney’s criticism of Apple’s implementation of DMA rules. Which doesn’t sit right.

Where does Apple state that? Not in this quote! It's an Epic Games quote in the above article that claims the ban happened because of Epic's criticism of Apple:

Epic Games:

In terminating Epic's developer account, Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store. They are undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and they are showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.

If you think Apple said what you claimed, provide a quote. If you can't do that, please retract the claim.

 

[AlastorKatriona]

It’s like Apple is just asking to get fined another billion+

No, Apple is trying to maintain control of their company and stop a bunch of lunatics from trying to turn it into a public utility.

 

[STOCK411]

citation?

thats what Sweeney is "claiming"

but given Sweeney has a habit of lying out of his tuchus, I dont take his word as gospel

 

[Fuchal]

Maybe they can make a new Unreal game now.

 

[Zest28]

Apple is not just banning Epic Games from using the App Store, but also banning them from ever developing their own store for iOS or bringing back Fortnite via an alternative store. Disgusting abuse of power.

Why don't you break the Terms & Services of MacRumors a few times and see if the mods don't ban you from this website.

 

[hagar]

A very large number of people here don’t understand that there can be a difference between normal everyday contracts and a monopoly sized business forcing terms on another business.

Anyway, I’m not sure exactly where Apple is heading with this because the EU has already judged Apple’s terms to be illegal at this point, so they’re angling for a big fine unless this gets resolved quickly.

I’m not sure. Apple already has a verdict of the courts backing them up.

Even if you want to open a third party store, you still need an Apple account and agree to their terms. It’s not like third party stores are the wild Wild West where everything goes.

So if they have a verdict confirming Epic doesn’t play by the rules, this just might hold up.

 

[HouseLannister]

Kiss the ring!

 

[AlastorKatriona]

It's sad to see so many people supporting the Goliath

When you decide that you're never going to side with Apple on any issue in any situation, you're apt to be wrong most of the time.

 

[AlastorKatriona]

Apple behaves like a huffy snotty brat!

Pretty sure you got that backwards.

 

[PlayUltimate]

A very large number of people here don’t understand that there can be a difference between normal everyday contracts and a monopoly sized business forcing terms on another business.

Anyway, I’m not sure exactly where Apple is heading with this because the EU has already judged Apple’s terms to be illegal at this point, so they’re angling for a big fine unless this gets resolved quickly.

Does Apple have to allow anyone to have access to their development tools? Or does Apple get to have a say ?

 

[centauratlas]

Could say the same thing about so many people supporting the EU's actions, no matter how egregious. Talk about supporting Goliath! I'm sure that will neeeeeever (/s) come back to bite you.🙄

Plus, as has been pointed out multiple times here already...Epic could be considered a "Goliath".

Yes, the Goliath here is the monopoly that is using force to require people to act a certain way at the point of a gun. Eg. The EU authoritarians.

 

[tucupeis]

hey sweeney, what about allowing apple to sell apple music, arcade, tv etc inside fortnite android, playstation,xbox and PC games?... for free

 

[talcssar]

I still want someone to explain one thing to me..

How can anyone tell a company what and how to operate? Why does the government need to get involved every single time Apple does something?

 

[jz0309]

Why does everyone hate Epic so much? Does Tim Sweeney have an annoying voice or something? For the life of me I can't fathom why so many people celebrate when one company can stomp out another's ability to distribute apps on a major platform.

Did you miss the whole story on how Epic broke the rules, dragged it thru the court system for years and in the end lost?
Why do you seemingly support a company that broke the law and has zero remorse?

 

[Black Magic]

So they're effectively banned from the App Store? That doesn't sit right with me....

Imagine building a company with blood, sweat, and tears that got as big as Apple. You gained all these customers based on your product offerings and services. One day, another company decides that they are entitled to take your customers and try to move them over to their app store and not pay you for the platform you created to begin with that gives them access to your customers. Go a little bit further and have a government jump in and tell you how to run your business. Crazy!

Curious why Sony Playstation Store and XBOX don't get the same scrutiny with their digital store fronts and 30% fees?

 

[cgs1xx]

Epic Games should just launch their own gadget/phone/platform and get on with it! You can’t be on someone else’s platform and dictate terms.

 

[AlastorKatriona]

Does Apple have to allow anyone to have access to their development tools? Or does Apple get to have a say ?

According to Tim Sweeney, the very act of denying them access is a violation of the DMA. Which is of course nonsense. But that tells you what Tim Sweeney thinks. He literally thinks the point is to rip Apple open and force them to do whatever anyone else wants.

 

[Cchase88754321]

Where does Apple state that? Not in this quote! It's an Epic Games quote in the above article that says the ban happened because of Epic's criticism of Apple:



If you think Apple said what you claimed, provide a quote. If you can't do that, please retract the claim.

Read the emails. Specifically this section mentions that exactly from Phil

 

[Analog Kid]

thats what Sweeney is "claiming"

but given Sweeney has a habit of lying out of his tuchus, I dont take his word as gospel

Ah, someone fell for the spin then...