Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney Admits App Store's 30% Cut Is Similar to Consoles, Would Have Accepted Special Deal With Apple
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
A hell of a lot of money if they win.
They explicitly said that they are doing it because they want to release their own app store and undercut Apple, that's what the entire thing is about.
Tim Sweeney did not help his case. Perhaps he would have fared better with more preparation, but at the end of the day his testimony can only be as strong as his argument.
Benjamin Simon, on the other hand, made clear, concise points that put even Apple's lawyers on edge. His testimony would have better served the class action suit, however, so not sure if it will have much impact on this particular case.
Benjamin Simon, on the other hand, made clear, concise points that put even Apple's lawyers on edge. His testimony would have better served the class action suit, however, so not sure if it will have much impact on this particular case.
We have a machine at our house we use for banking that we want to be secure - we chose an iPad for this purpose. I am very worried about Apple being legally compelled to add the necessary code to iOS/iPadOS to allow people to download and install apps from the web like with Windows and macOS, which would be a requirement for 3rd party app stores. It means we will no longer have such a nice solution. Nothing will ever be as secure as the total program whitelisting iOS/iPadOS has now.
Apple does not have a monopoly. Monopolies require you to have all or nearly all of the market share for your product, and in the case of Apple, Android actually has way more users than they do. As far as I'm concerned, Apple doesn't have to allow third-party apps on their platform at all if they don't want to any more than I'm required to allow guests into my home. IIRC that was exactly the situation when the iPhone first came out - their apps and nothing else. I don't see any calls for my Mom's simple calculator to be required to write a solution to allow third-party firmware to be flashed onto the device on the basis that they have a "monopoly" on their calculator's firmware.
This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen, but with the situation progressing as it is in Europe, I think Apple is really going to lose this one. Outside of Apple fan sites, people seem to be overwhelmingly in favor of that outcome.
Apple does not have a monopoly. Monopolies require you to have all or nearly all of the market share for your product, and in the case of Apple, Android actually has way more users than they do. As far as I'm concerned, Apple doesn't have to allow third-party apps on their platform at all if they don't want to any more than I'm required to allow guests into my home. IIRC that was exactly the situation when the iPhone first came out - their apps and nothing else. I don't see any calls for my Mom's simple calculator to be required to write a solution to allow third-party firmware to be flashed onto the device on the basis that they have a "monopoly" on their calculator's firmware.
This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen, but with the situation progressing as it is in Europe, I think Apple is really going to lose this one. Outside of Apple fan sites, people seem to be overwhelmingly in favor of that outcome.
I think Apple will win this case and will remain strong in their stance, regardless of what other entities may whine about.
It’s a publicity stunt. So that epic’s child army. Will think of epic games as the little guy sticking it to the man.
So many social media and gaming CEOs have gone mad with the idea of creating their own platform currency or meme tokens and becoming a kind of unaccountable unelected government over their users. Collecting their user’s data and financial lives. They are being used as a proxy to attack our democratic nations on behalf of the autocratic regimes.
It would be a joke if you or I did that, sure. Of course he went with the more informal greeting because it was one large company's CEO talking to another large company's CEO. When you're worth billions more than Timmy Apple too, you're not going to address someone like, "Hi Mr Cook. It is so great to talk to you. Please read my email."
edit: I find all the disagree votes hilarious...like they can relate to these two guys. "You're so, so wrong. You need to show Tim Cook RESPECT! *finger points*" It is similar to when folks get up in arms about a tax increase on a level of income they'll never see, lol. It doesn't affect you; go sit down.
Last edited:
LOL this is the second day of a three weeks long trial, don't cheer too early, EU will come to the rescue anyway.
ec.europa.eu
Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections to Apple on App Store rules for music streaming providers
The European Commission has informed Apple of its preliminary view that it distorted competition in the music streaming market as it abused its dominant position for the distribution of music streaming apps through its App Store.
Last edited:
@Theyayarealivin You have been failing to post first in MR articles all day. Get it together or turn in your MR card. 
w00t, it's not a bot?@Theyayarealivin You have been failing to post first in MR articles all day. Get it together or turn in your MR card.
I know everyone here thinks Apple will win, but anti-trust law is pretty unforgiving to closed marketplaces.
Considering the user base scale at the time, Angry Birds was arguably just as, if not more successful than Fortnite.
Sweeney's complacency makes me all the more suspicious that he, and Epic, are just a front to crack open iOS by the spooks and governments who have long been complaining about "no back door", and "encryption is bad".
Is Apple putting itself in danger because it is (re)empowering the public who buy into their system?
Sweeney is far too relaxed and comfortable with this situation and seems happy to admit to all the obvious points against him. Why fight then? Unless you know something no one else does.
Is Apple putting itself in danger because it is (re)empowering the public who buy into their system?
Sweeney is far too relaxed and comfortable with this situation and seems happy to admit to all the obvious points against him. Why fight then? Unless you know something no one else does.
Epic would have to first demonstrate that Apple is a monopoly in "a market". Epic is trying to frame the narrative that Apple has a store monopoly on Apple devices. A different take would be to consider if Apple has monopoly among all mobile devices. Apple is not a monopoly for latter. Furthermore, being a monopoly isn't illegal. Abusing that position to the detriment of customers or competitors is.
I don't think Sweeney really thought this through with his lawyers. They could have filed the case without violating developer agreement and getting booted. EU is bringing charges against Apple on behalf of Spotify in a way that seems more "professional".
Finally an answer we can all get behind
I'm really unclear on how allowing the ability to install third-party apps from the web affects the security of you using your iPad as a "banking machine," whatever that means. As has already been demonstrated, it is quite possible to get not only unauthorized features (as in the instant case) but actual malware through App Review. At least one person at Apple itself has called App Review security theater.
Now, all of this to say, Epic can go to hell. It was very clearly always about themselves and the money, never about anybody else. But you have apparently completely bought into Apple's marketing line that the current system is inherently more secure when it has been demonstrated (and outright stated by someone involved in the process) that it is not.
That's a very intellectual and straight to the point statement, regardless of the camp you're coming from.
I think he knew that Apple wouldn’t accept any deal. I mean, why would they cut a special deal with the guy from the rehearsals?
But to your last question — he does seem like the type that seeks publicity.
I literally (which of course now means figuratively) did a facepalm when I read that.