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Epic Games Expands Fortnite Legal Dispute With Apple to the UK
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On my laptop, I can choose between getting programs via the App Store, or directly from the companies. Why can't this very basic option exist on my iPad (or iPhone)?
I really, really hope Epic is able to win and set a precedence with their pursuits.
I really, really hope Epic is able to win and set a precedence with their pursuits.
A similar scenario occurred during WW2. When they hit a dead end they invaded other countries instead.
But on a more serious note...
The only reason they’ve approached the U.K is because the overwhelming majority of our zombie-like children play Fortnite, with mum and dad footing the bill for all their DLC. They know they’re losing revenue here.
But on a more serious note...
The only reason they’ve approached the U.K is because the overwhelming majority of our zombie-like children play Fortnite, with mum and dad footing the bill for all their DLC. They know they’re losing revenue here.
Probably yes https://www.statista.com/statistics/746230/fortnite-players/
Even if it's no longer the most popular game, all video game and other time-wasting tech prospects rise when people are stuck at home. Like, idk who even uses Snapchat anymore, but their stock is ~2.75X what it was a year ago.
Cause it's not the government's job to tell tech companies how to build their non-life-critical software. And if it were, it'd be the US govt, not UK.
There was never such a thing as losing a criminal or civil case tried under a country's laws (and not EU laws), and then appealing to "European Courts." The Court of Justice for the European Union has jurisdiction over matters of EU law, not French law, UK law, etc.
Moreover, any proceeding that originates in a member country has to be referred to the Court of Justice for the European Union. There is no automatic right to appeal.
We seem to manage perfectly fine on our laptops and desktops, freely choosing the sources of where we locate software and what we want to install.
You paid $1,000+ for a device, you should be able to use and install on it whatever you want, from wherever you want. An "App Store" is just a centralized convenience.
Epic has little chance of success in the US case, but I'm not sure where you got this nonsensical and non-existent legal standard.
As to the UK and other countries, their laws are different. Maybe Epic's chances are better, maybe worse.
Yeah, and the govt didn't mandate how it works on laptops and desktops, rather it developed naturally that way. The market for phones is very different. If you don't want to pay the $1000 for a device that's locked down, don't.
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I’ll take an order of Bangers and Mash with that filing. An Epic Meal for another chapter in the Epic Fail. LMAO. 😂
Whether that "should" be possible is irrelevant. When you buy an iOS device or use the App Store you are required to accept or decline the terms of service, and there is nothing illegal about Apple requiring people to abide by the terms they agree to.
If you don't like those terms there's always Samsung.
I'm guessing Epic are crying because all this Trump and COVID stuff has made people who already didn't give a crap about them, forget about them even more... and so they now need to cry for more attention!
Also... "an important argument" that it is making on behalf of consumers and developers in the UK.... I don't know of one consumer here that gives a flying f**k about Fortnite or Epic!
Also... "an important argument" that it is making on behalf of consumers and developers in the UK.... I don't know of one consumer here that gives a flying f**k about Fortnite or Epic!
I personally don't care for Fortnite as a game, but I'm curious to see where this goes in terms of the walled garden.
I wonder how the UK laws compare to the US. Is the anti-trust regulation there any stronger than the US? Or is it weaker?
I imagine Epic will need to file in all jurisdictions where it publishes Fortnite to the App Store, as I guess a US ruling is unlikely to effect the outcome in other countries like China (and vice versa).
I wonder how the UK laws compare to the US. Is the anti-trust regulation there any stronger than the US? Or is it weaker?
I imagine Epic will need to file in all jurisdictions where it publishes Fortnite to the App Store, as I guess a US ruling is unlikely to effect the outcome in other countries like China (and vice versa).
Because the British App Store has to follow English law/rules. Many of these are different then US law
Then the App Store goes away, so Epic still can’t get on iOS. Yay?
I think they’re hoping they have a higher likelihood of getting through the UK more so than EU, but, in either case, it’s a small likelihood that may have gotten infinitesimally greater?
Either Epic’s press release is wrong or they filled this in a court that doesn’t have jurisdiction to hear it.
The CAT has an appellate jurisdiction. Appeal is literally in its name. You cannot “launch legal proceedings against Apple and Google” in the CAT. At best Epic could appeal a decision by the Competition and Markets Authority that Apple and Google did not breach competition law. But that is an appeal against the CMA and not a law suit against Apple and Google.
While I have never worked for the CMA, I was a senior competition official at a different UK regulator with concurrent competition powers. Basically, this is the area of my expertise.
The CAT has an appellate jurisdiction. Appeal is literally in its name. You cannot “launch legal proceedings against Apple and Google” in the CAT. At best Epic could appeal a decision by the Competition and Markets Authority that Apple and Google did not breach competition law. But that is an appeal against the CMA and not a law suit against Apple and Google.
While I have never worked for the CMA, I was a senior competition official at a different UK regulator with concurrent competition powers. Basically, this is the area of my expertise.
Well that’s not true if the App Store wants to operate in the U.K. it has to follow English law. For example many apps have the protection of the US first amendment were as our hate laws are different and they cannot operate in the British App Store.
Epic is the Parler of video game companies. Same nonsense talking points, playing the victim when their CEO is 30 times richer than Tim Cook, playing the small guy when they are owned by Tencent, living in their own alternative universe and making unreasonable demands.
Well EU law doesn’t work like that. Say for example they did it in Germany and won. That would only apply to Germany and not to the rest of the EU. Where, if it ever reached the higher court on the EU level it would apply to all other EU countries.
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Epic is not interested in the British Court outcome... much like their court case in Australia, it is yet another marketing stunt to keep them in the news while many country’s regulators are looking at big tech for “anti-competitive” behaviour. This is designed to sway the public’s opinion.
When you look at the case on it’s merit, it is a simple violation of contract terms. It was easily fixed by Epic and they willingly chose not to. They had multiple opportunities to fix their relationship with Apple. Now that relationship has soured, Apple cannot be forced to do business with Epic.
There are many ways to attack the problem and Epic chose the worst way. Especially now when mobile gaming is evolving at an unprecedented rate and now is the largest revenue contributer to the global gaming economy. It’s growth is expected to continue. Apple‘s change to their own silicon on Mac is going to allow devs to target all Apple devices for an even larger audience with minimal effort. Epic is going to end up watching all that cash, from the biggest spenders in the industry, wash down the drain for their silly crusade.
Oh, hi Epic. You still over in the corner whining about how hard life is? Sorry, completely forgot about you.
Because these aren't laptops or desktops. These are phones (and I suppose iPads). I get that it isn't right for everyone, that's why there are options! Personally, while I don't agree with all of Apple's rules, the trust and experience of the App Store is a big plus for me. Just look at all the privacy transparency.
That's fine, no one is saying get rid of the App Store or that anything changes for you. But if you own a device, you should be able to freely install an app on it without having to go through the App Store. This system obviously works perfectly fine, as demonstrated by the laptops/desktops. Apple and software companies compete in a free market, and consumer choice wins.
Maybe they’re hoping British courts will be more sympathic to entities that threw a tantrum and quit out of a larger market, and now find themselves dealing with the self-inflicted damage while trying to demand the market take them back on even better terms than prior?
Epic just got too big for its boots and ended up getting spanked in the process.