I don’t understand why the judge would force this given she previously ruled Apple was within its rights to ban Epic from the store, but it certainly seems she’s already decided she’s going to side with Epic.
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Apple Might Be Forced to Bring Fortnite Back to U.S. App Store
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That’s the problem. Apple doesn’t want them to use their Swedish account, for whatever reason.
Apple is not a monopoly. This is just getting ridiculous.
It’s their software and the courts do not reserve the right to freely dictate how a company operates.
If you want to make an argument, it’s maybe for the hardware you pay for - not the software you’re not.
It’s their software and the courts do not reserve the right to freely dictate how a company operates.
If you want to make an argument, it’s maybe for the hardware you pay for - not the software you’re not.
Maybe Apple was in its right to ban Epic at the time (when it broke TOS which at that time were not yet deemed illegal), but that due to changing circumstances (their TOS were illegal), this is no longer the case.
I think in many cases a permanent ban is also deemed disproportional. I could see how this is such a case where it would be disproportional for Apple to continue to ban Epic.
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I don’t play Fortnite, but I do have a small collection of games in the Epic Store. At this point I think I’m uninstalling it. I want nothing to do with Epic.
I don't think Epic is using their US developer account, because it was banned. This is Epic (Sweeden) or something that's suing Apple (USA).
I think. It's hard to keep track anymore.
agreed. And the latest ruling did not say that the previous ruling was no invalid, or did it?
Very odd indeed
the ban from 2020 was for Epic and all its subsidiaries
Link: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...rtnite-for-us-app-store.2457321/post-33912042
Thank You @surferb
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this has personally affected you how?
I paid for the hardware, software, and the gold plating on Tim Cook’s yacht by the astronomical prices of iPhones
That’s what Apple does actually forcing developers to publish apps on their store and then asking for a hefty fee for it.
Not just a parasite. He's a cancer.
The Judge should be taken off the bench, she is not applying the law, this why I do not trust the U.S. court system. Apple stay strong, do not let Fortnite back on IOS. #boycottfortnite #timsweeneylooser.
Precedent. The Mac has always allowed software to be downloaded and installed outside of an official "App Store" (since there was no such thing for most of the Mac's existence). And Apple does take a (I believe) 30% cut of any Mac app purchased via the Mac App Store.
Outside of web apps, iOS has always required software to be downloaded and installed via the App Store.
So Epic thinks it's ok for a judge to allow any app on the store that sues Apple. Great. Next up, p*rnhub app. And my app that costs $1 and a blue screen with -41 pops up. I call it Error App.
I am not a lawyer, but if that was the case the judge would have said so in the original ruling - I mean “Apple was within its rights to kick Epic out, but I’m changing a rule so they’ll have to let them back in” seems like something she could have written.
I mean, I’d never want to do business with anyone who breeched a contract with me then sued, costing me hundreds of millions of dollars. The idea a judge can force Apple to do business with another company is a little frightening.
This case is so long-run and convoluted I may be misremembering, but I recall that Epic's developer accounts were terminated for multiple infractions, not just for encouraging users at the time to purchase Fortnite MTX outside the app.
So while the external MTX purchases are now (pending appeal) legal, Apple likely still has multiple reasons to continue to ban Epic from having an account on the US App Store. I believe the EU forced Apple to allow Epic back in within Europe and I expect Epic is trying to get the US judge to do the same.
If apple is allowed to continue to block them. Absolutely.
Under the EU DMA allowing alternative app stores, Apple approved Epic’s Swedish account in early 2024, then terminated it, and then reversed the termination.
I wonder if someone can clarify to me, the injunction to allow external payments - does this affect only USA App store apps, or has this change been enforced / implemented worldwide?
If it's only a change to the USA App Store, as a Brit, what's to stop me:
Changing my account region to USA (or creating an USA region App Store account)
Downloading the American version of Spotify (for instance)
Logging in with my UK Spotify account
Then using the external payment link to make a purchase something in £ ?
If it's only a change to the USA App Store, as a Brit, what's to stop me:
Changing my account region to USA (or creating an USA region App Store account)
Downloading the American version of Spotify (for instance)
Logging in with my UK Spotify account
Then using the external payment link to make a purchase something in £ ?
The reason that Apple must allow Epic back on is simple. Apple promised it would.
At trial, Apple announced would "gladly welcome Fornite back to iOS" whenever Fortnite complied with the App Store Guidelines. Tim Cook personally adopted and repeated this representation. And to avoid any doubt, Apple represented to the Court that Fornite was welcome back when compliant with App Store Guidelines, "even though Epic had breached [the contract]."
Once Apple won its case before the Court, Apple became bound by its representations under which Apple would restore Fornite to the App Store, even if Apple had the right to terminate Epic's developer account for breach of contract. The now binding representations from Apple's trial lawyers essentially forfeit Apple's practical ability to terminate Epic.
There will be no hearing. When a judge issues a show cause order requiring a high level executive to personally attend a contempt of court hearing, the court is announcing "the company will either comply or I will start arresting and jailing your executives." The decision has already been made.
I think people were too fast to declare that Apple emerged from the trial victorious. Appears that the small issue won by Epic may actually have been the most meaningful.
At trial, Apple announced would "gladly welcome Fornite back to iOS" whenever Fortnite complied with the App Store Guidelines. Tim Cook personally adopted and repeated this representation. And to avoid any doubt, Apple represented to the Court that Fornite was welcome back when compliant with App Store Guidelines, "even though Epic had breached [the contract]."
Once Apple won its case before the Court, Apple became bound by its representations under which Apple would restore Fornite to the App Store, even if Apple had the right to terminate Epic's developer account for breach of contract. The now binding representations from Apple's trial lawyers essentially forfeit Apple's practical ability to terminate Epic.
There will be no hearing. When a judge issues a show cause order requiring a high level executive to personally attend a contempt of court hearing, the court is announcing "the company will either comply or I will start arresting and jailing your executives." The decision has already been made.
I think people were too fast to declare that Apple emerged from the trial victorious. Appears that the small issue won by Epic may actually have been the most meaningful.
The Judge made a judgement, not new legislation. The Judge therefor does not change rules, but applies them.
This is a dispute between corporations, not two individuals. I don't think, in any country, corporations are given personal identity. Therefor Apple as a corporation does not have a 'want'. It is also important to consider Apples market power over Apps distributed over iOS, and I can only consider the judge would find it disproportionate for Apple to block Epic permanently because of a legal dispute.
Then buy Android
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Why would you bother? by time you had done that it would be easier to just go to the Spotify site and make the purchase, no?