Mac users can download virtually any software they like, from any source they like. Contrast this anti-competitive harm with how similar markets operate on Apple’s own Mac computers. At a market cap of nearly $2 trillion, Apple’s size and reach far exceeds that of any technology monopolist in history. Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear. Here's some selected portions of the 65-page document which we recommend reading: Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation. In addition, they've released a compelling statement that they'd clearly had prepared prior to the day's events. To begin its battle against Big Tech's largest Goliath, Epic Games has filed a lawsuit alleging that Apple violated the Sherman Act and asking the court to force Apple to change its App Store policies. But the masterstroke itself is that Epic is positioning this as a way for consumers to save money - by the lowering the price of its in-game V-buck currency in accordance with the removal of Apple's 30% fee - and not just a shameless cash grab on their own part. Epic's strategy here is clear: Break the rules, get punished by Apple, show consumers and politicians exactly the kind of power Apple can flex over developers and consumers, and declare war. Objection - Epic knows that these practices won't look good in any court case against Apple, especially with the current anti-trust political winds whipping through Washington.
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We think all developers should be free to support direct payments in all apps." It's also pretty rich of Apple to word this all in such a way as to paint Epic Games, creator of the largest video game franchise in modern memory, as lucky to survive on Apple's altruistic goodwill alone. In its FAQ about the new payment options, Epic noted that "Thousands of apps on the App Store approved by Apple accept direct payments, including commonly used apps like Amazon, Grubhub, Nike SNKRS, Best Buy, DoorDash, Fandango, McDonalds, Uber, Lyft, and StubHub. Rotten, Apple - This is misleading on Apple's part, as many of the App Store's "equal" guidelines are regularly broken by the company's largest app providers, including Amazon, Netflix, and Google.
We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users. Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such a successful business on the App Store. Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem - including it's tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers. Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services. As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store. Upon removing Fortnite from the App Store, the company released the following statement: Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users. Fornite is currently one of the most popular and profitable games on the market - and possibly of all time. The decision comes with pronouncement by Apple that Epic Games violated the company's agreement to share 30 percent of its app revenue with Apple. Just hours after Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, announced that it would allow users to make purchases directly within its own app, Apple kicked Fortnite off its marketplace.