Apple Wants $73.4 Million From Epic Games to Cover Its Legal Expenses

[svish]

Think Apple should be compensated. Looks like Epic will have to pay

 

[bgillander]

But critically, none of this was ever really about Fortnite, from Sweeney's point of view. I'm quite convinced that the real objective, all along, has been to force Apple to open up that beautifully manicured walled garden, so that Sweeney and Co. could eventually command 100% of the profits from various (low margin?) mobile games that they have been planning but haven't yet released.

I like your thinking. I figured it was a "hail Mary" gamble of the iOS market that was smaller to Epic, just to see if he could do the same to the XBox and Playstation stores if he happened to win, but maybe I'm wrong that those ones were bigger potatoes to Epic.

 

[wanha]

I doubt it. He owns a closed system as well (it's in every Tesla) and I very much doubt he'd be amenable to opening it up to developers and their own stores. Then again, Elon dropped $44B on twitter and look what he's done with that, so maybe he appreciates terrible decisions.

It was that latter point I was driving at with my comment.

But it also seems likely to me that Elon thinks others should be forced to open their systems, but that it obviously shouldn't apply to any of Elon's companies.

 

[bgillander]

It was that latter point I was driving at with my comment.

But it also seems likely to me that Elon thinks others should be forced to open their systems, but that it obviously shouldn't apply to any of Elon's companies.

So Elon does occasionally think like most other people?!? 😃

 

[zarmanto]

I like your thinking. I figured it was a "hail Mary" gamble of the iOS market that was smaller to Epic, just to see if he could do the same to the XBox and Playstation stores if he happened to win, but maybe I'm wrong that those ones were bigger potatoes to Epic.

Oh, I think you might still be right about that -- there's nothing contradictory in the idea that both objectives might have factored into his gambit. But for several years now, we've all been reading about how the mobile software market has been trending upward every year with projections of yet more staggering growth in the future, while growth projections for the console market are perhaps slightly less steep, overall. I just figure Sweeney has been paying rapt attention to some of those same trend lines, and he no doubt thought that he'd conceived of the perfect plan to capture even more profit from that burgeoning market. I also imagine that the "breaking a few eggs to make an omelet" metaphor factored heavily into his rationalization for the openly shady approach he took.

But ya know... "best laid plans," and all that.

 

[StuBeck]

We don't know what yet? SCOTUS denied cert. This case is effectively over. Perhaps another developer with a better case, a better trial strategy, and is not ******* crazy will be able to bring a suit with a different outcome.

ETA: Of course, that next suit will also have to overcome the precedences set in this trial.

We don't know whether Apple will win their case about lawyer fees. The topic was covering this specific issue so I thought it was implied we were talking about the request for lawyers fees.

 

[StuBeck]

The case is already settled what is Apple going to lose?

The case is not settled. Apple requested 73.4 million from Epic a few days ago, there is no way that has been completed yet.

 

[BaldiMac]

We don't know whether Apple will win their case about lawyer fees. The topic was covering this specific issue so I thought it was implied we were talking about the request for lawyers fees.

Epic already acknowledged they would have to pay damages. Apple's asking for their legal fees in damages. They only question to be decided is how much is appropriate.

 

[gregmancuso]

We don't know whether Apple will win their case about lawyer fees. The topic was covering this specific issue so I thought it was implied we were talking about the request for lawyers fees.

You are correct. I forgot which thread I was replying to.

Specifically here, though, Epic conceded at the start that they would owe damages if they lost. I think we can agree that legal fees can be counted in there.

Obviously we have to wait for the ruling but it is likely it will be awarded.