Epic Games Appeals to the US Supreme Court in Latest Apple Legal Clash
Epic Games is taking its fight against Apple to the US Supreme Court. The game developer has filed an appeal, requesting the court to pause the injunction that was granted to Apple, as it seeks to overturn the ruling in the ongoing legal battle between the two companies.
The conflict between Apple and Epic Games began when Epic attempted to bypass Apple’s 30% fee on in-app purchases by directing users to its own website for transactions. As a result, Apple removed Epic’s popular game Fortnite from the App Store, igniting the highly publicized dispute.
In September 2021, Epic achieved a victory when a California court ordered Apple to allow developers to implement in-app purchases outside of the app store. However, subsequent appeals led to mixed results in April 2023, with Apple winning on several fronts but losing the ability to prevent companies from circumventing the commission fee.
Both Epic Games and Apple swiftly appealed the decision, with Apple filing for an injunction to buy time for preparation. Epic now aims to ensure that the 2021 ruling remains intact.
The Arguments
Apple is arguing to the supreme court that the previous decision, which mandated the allowance of third-party payments for all developers, was an overreach. Meanwhile, Epic contends that granting a pause on the decision is too lenient and indicates a potential bias in favor of Apple.
The Future of the Battle
It remains uncertain how the saga will unfold from this point forward. The dispute between Epic Games and Apple has lasted almost three years and shows no signs of imminent resolution. While Apple’s 30% profit cut may seem like sound business, more and more game developers are opting to sell their products on alternative app stores, motivated by courts consistently favoring Epic’s ability to offer in-game purchases outside of established platforms. Reversing this decision appears to be a long shot.
Stay tuned for our upcoming list of the top 50 mobile game makers of 2023, where Epic Games may make another appearance.