In a recent development, tech giant Apple (AAPL.O) has firmly denied allegations of breaching a court order related to its App Store regulations. The company has urged a federal judge in California, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, to dismiss a request by “Fortnite” developer Epic Games to hold it in contempt.
The dispute stems from Epic Games’ 2020 lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of violating antitrust laws due to its strict control over app downloads and in-app transactions. Apple has defended its position, arguing that Epic’s request aims to excessively interfere with its business operations, particularly by seeking to access Apple’s tools and technologies without cost.
Epic Games, on the other hand, has refrained from commenting on the matter. However, it previously alleged that Apple was blatantly disregarding the court’s injunction, citing instances where Apple imposed a hefty 27% fee on developers and restricted apps from informing users about alternative payment methods.
This ongoing legal battle has attracted attention not only from Epic Games but also from other tech entities. Meta Platforms (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Elon Musk’s X, and Match Group (MTCH.O) have echoed Epic’s arguments, alleging that Apple is in clear violation of the court’s order.
While Epic Games largely lost its case against Apple, Judge Rogers did rule in 2021 in favor of granting developers greater freedom in guiding app users to alternative payment methods. However, the conflict persists, with Apple facing continued scrutiny over its App Store practices.
This legal saga mirrors a similar case between Epic Games and Alphabet’s Google, with a separate injunction expected to affect the Google Play Store later this year.
The case, officially titled Epic Games Inc v Apple Inc, is being closely monitored in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with the docket number 20-05640.
