Apple Won't Allow Fortnite Back in the App Store Until Legal Battle Ends Due to Epic's 'Duplicitous Conduct'

[Abazigal]

Apple already got REKT by epic. All app publisher can now use third party payment routes and bypass the royalties.

Meanwhile Apple fanboys still think that Epic lost…

The courts also ruled that Apple is well within their rights to pursue their share of royalties from developers using third party payment options. It’s just going to be more work for everyone at the end of the day.

Let’s see…developer still has to pay Apple 15 or 30% of app revenue, in addition to paying Stripe their 3%, while handling all the payment matters on their own that used to be covered by iTunes billing…

Yup, looks like Epic did the developer community a real solid there…

 

[FreedomPenguin]

To all those saying apple is wrong, shake my head. I come to your house, destroy your house and I’m kicked out
I ask to come back and I’m rightfully denied

no questions further

 

[technole]

Apple already got REKT by epic. All app publisher can now use third party payment routes and bypass the royalties.

Meanwhile Apple fanboys still think that Epic lost… 🤣🤣

Imagine losing 6% of your Fortnite revenue along with court fees and going with argument that Apple got Rekt. Yeah okay.

 

[cmaier]

Quite Frankly I do not like the conduct of both Apple and Epic since they both equally look bad in this litigation.

The judge disagrees with you, and seemed to indicate quite clearly that only one side looked bad.

 

[NBAasDOGG]

Imagine losing 6% of your Fortnite revenue along with court fees and going with argument that Apple got Rekt. Yeah okay.

Imagine loosing 30% royalties from the App Strore by getting overthrown by Epic 🤣

 

[cmaier]

Imagine loosing 30% royalties from the App Strore by getting overthrown by Epic 🤣

You’d need to also imagine an entirely different legal system and set of laws to go along with that.

 

[dwaite]

Yeah, the part that Epic (rightfully) violated.

Epic’s behavior was still against their contract thus owing apple 30% of the payments within their iOS app.

 

[dwaite]

This is a major win for Epic and all devs, we can now add alternative payment methods and bypass Apple’s fees, not surprised Apple’s turned sour and who games on a Mac lol

You’ve always been able to do that out of store and never been able to do it in-app. That has not changed With this ruling.

what has changed is the anti-steering rules apple has had in the past that you can’t funnel users into an out-of-app payment system, e.g. opening a browser to a page with a link for paid upgrades

 

[svish]

Will surely be a long long time before Fortnite is back on App store

 

[dwaite]

Apple already got REKT by epic. All app publisher can now use third party payment routes and bypass the royalties.

There is no requirement related to apple charging royalties on external payments. Tim Cook has indicated that would be his plan for this outcome previously under oath.

Harder to meter, for sure.

 

[DC Wallaby]

At the end of the day, Apple‘s decision not to restore Epic’s developer account that it uses for Fortnite is a very simple issue. Cut through the legal technicalities, the anti-competitive stuff, the PR posturing, and whatever else. Get down to the core of it:

1. Apple promised that if Epic agreed to play by the rules, they would allow Fortnite back on the store
2. Sweeney’s own letter says Epic will resubmit Fortnite IF AND WHEN Apple changes the rules to Epic’s satisfaction based on their interpretation of the judge’s edict
3. Epic is still pursuing legal recourse (appeals) to get their way
4. The judge said that Apple was well within its rights to permanently ban all of Epic’s developer accounts

So based on this, why on earth would Apple agree to allow Fortnite back in the store, ever? Sweeney is a disingenuous, manipulative liar who is pathologically incapable of negotiating in good faith, and his current social media PR spin blitz about this news is reason enough for Apple to tell him to get lost.

 

[DC Wallaby]

Imagine loosing 30% royalties from the App Strore by getting overthrown by Epic 🤣

😂

Not only are you dead wrong on the facts of the case, but let’s be real here: a lot of people are still going to choose to use IAP over third-party payment options after Apple‘s anti-steering policies are dead and gone.

Me personally, I haaaaaate subscribing to services outside of the IAP system, for instance, because I vastly prefer Apple’s system for managing subscriptions, even if I have to pay a little more.

 

[Ethosik]

If it is your only means to communicate with others and you carry life saving medical info it is. No question we are all addicted but for some it is life saving.

Communicate with others = cell phone NOT smart phone. My grandparents, who have all sorts of health issues, get by just fine without one. So by definition, it’s not a necessity. And my grandparents are not the only ones otherwise Jitterbug will be out of business today.

 

[FreedomPenguin]

At the end of the day, Apple‘s decision not to restore Epic’s developer account that it uses for Fortnite is a very simple issue. Cut through the legal technicalities, the anti-competitive stuff, the PR posturing, and whatever else. Get down to the core of it:

1. Apple promised that if Epic agreed to play by the rules, they would allow Fortnite back on the store
2. Sweeney’s own letter says Epic will resubmit Fortnite IF AND WHEN Apple changes the rules to Epic’s satisfaction based on their interpretation of the judge’s edict
3. Epic is still pursuing legal recourse (appeals) to get their way
4. The judge said that Apple was well within its rights to permanently ban all of Epic’s developer accounts

So based on this, why on earth would Apple agree to allow Fortnite back in the store, ever? Sweeney is a disingenuous, manipulative liar who is pathologically incapable of negotiating in good faith, and his current social media PR spin blitz about this news is reason enough for Apple to tell him to get lost.

people seem to think because Tim said they could come back to the store if they behave, he would. agreed, but the guy didnt behave hes still trying to appeal fight and cause ruckus.
I say permanent ban. make a example out of him.
apple power. !

 

[theotherphil]

The saga continues….

 

[alex2792]

😂

Not only are you dead wrong on the facts of the case, but let’s be real here: a lot of people are still going to choose to use IAP over third-party payment options after Apple‘s anti-steering policies are dead and gone.

Me personally, I haaaaaate subscribing to services outside of the IAP system, for instance, because I vastly prefer Apple’s system for managing subscriptions, even if I have to pay a little more.

Well, that’s fine as long as consumers have a choice of paying 30% less by buying directly from developers. Those who enjoy donating to Tim Cook mega yacht fund are still free to do so, it’s a win win.

 

[trusso]

To those giving my post above the "thumbs down," I'm not the only one who thinks Apple is being a huge a$$hole about this. More than that, they're simply in the wrong.

Michael Tsai - Blog - Apple Lies About Epic Again

mjtsai.com

But, you know, have fun bowing down to your golden god.

 

[cmaier]

To those giving my post above the "thumbs down," I'm not the only one who thinks Apple is being a huge a$$hole about this. More than that, they're simply in the wrong.

Michael Tsai - Blog - Apple Lies About Epic Again

mjtsai.com

But, you know, have fun bowing down to your golden god.

Apple didn’t lie. Sweeney didn’t actually agree to follow the rules. He chose his words very carefully.

 

[Abazigal]

Well, that’s fine as long as consumers have a choice of paying 30% less by buying directly from developers. Those who enjoy donating to Tim Cook mega yacht fund are still free to do so, it’s a win win.

I am not sure if you are being intentionally obtuse. The judge has ruled that Apple is still well within their rights to charge a commission from apps that use 3rd party payment options, and Apple had previously indicated in their earlier hearing that they clearly feel entitled enough to this that they would find a way of going about collecting it, onerous as the process may be.

For all intents and purposes, it sure seems to me that Apple has won in pretty much every metric that mattered.

 

[quarkysg]

Well, that’s fine as long as consumers have a choice of paying 30% less by buying directly from developers.

Well, I guess I have to applaud you for being optimistic on this front.

IMHO, if the developers are already complaining that they cannot balance their checkbooks with the 30%/15% commission, it's very unlikely that they will pass on this savings to consumers. What will most likely happen is that the developers will pocket the extra 30%/15% and consumers still pays the same price.

 

[DC Wallaby]

Well, I guess I have to applaud you for being optimistic on this front.

IMHO, if the developers are already complaining that they cannot balance their checkbooks with the 30%/15% commission, it's very unlikely that they will pass on this savings to consumers. What will most likely happen is that the developers will pocket the extra 30%/15% and consumers still pays the same price.

You mean like how Epic only reduced the costs for their virtual currency by 20% in Fortnite when they picked this fight, pocketing that additional 10%?

 

[cmaier]

You mean like how Epic only reduced the costs for their virtual currency by 20% in Fortnite when they picked this fight, pocketing that additional 10%?

And that was them trying to look good for the lawsuit!

 

[jameslmoser]

The judge did not say that. The judge only indicated Apple can not block in app notifications pointing to another way to pay (website, pre-paid cards etc.). Epic got kicked out for creating an in app payment bypass that was not just go buy it on the website which Apple has always allowed just not a big in app notification which now they need to. So when you go to buy something in an App going forward as a developer you can put up a notice saying that the same item can be bought via website or pre-paid card and possibly for less).

This is ridiculously splitting hairs...

 

[techfreak23]

Gotta love that Tim Sweeney’s Twitter pic is VERY reminiscent of a weasel… lol gtfo of here already with his terrible decision as a corporate leader. He made a gamble and lost. Quit the crap.

 

[Hessian]

Apple holding a monopoly on the App Store and then penalizing developers and other companies is not something to be cheering about. Regardless of what you “think” about Epic Games, Apple has proven to be too big and too powerful. This is one of many lawsuits Apple will be facing regarding their predatory App Store practices until it’s changed for the better. Y’all want fair wages increased in this country but also want big companies to crush the small guys. Zero logic.

Dear Zero Logic,

Problem is with your definition of Monopoly. You believe that someone having complete control over their own product/service is such a thing. "This word you keep using... I don't think it means what you think it means".

Apple does not have a majority of marketshare (look that word up) in ANY market that it competes.

By your (zero) logic, Target has a monopoly over its stores and shelves. Yes, Apple is big and successful, but they also created a store that the little guy (Single developer like that of Flappy Bird) can spend $99 to join as a developer and make 50 grand a day. This never happened with Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, etc.

Epic wants to build their own store. They can! AND they can also invest billions in developing their own platform just like Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, etc.

Does Epic then have a monopoly on Fortnite's store? Can I sell my own candy cane axe for free and take all the proceeds? Why not? Answer: They build their own platform/game and that is how they monetize it. Do they have a majority marketshare (there is that word again)? Not over the market, only over their product/service.