Observed Signal · Oct 13, 2021 · Regulation · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Google and Apple Sue Epic Games Again
The article reports ongoing legal actions between Epic Games and the tech giants Google and Apple over Fortnite in-app purchases. Google has filed a counterclaim seeking damages, arguing Epic processed purchases outside the Google Play Store and thus deprived Google of its expected commissions; Google asserts this violated Play Store guidelines. Apple has also filed a damages suit against Epic, claiming significant revenue losses due to Epic’s alternative payment system and violations of App Store rules, and notes that Fortnite was removed from the App Store with a six‑million‑dollar penalty imposed earlier. The piece notes Fortnite is not available on Android devices via the App Store either. Since August 13, 2020, users could choose to pay for purchases within Fortnite through Google, Apple, or Epic’s own system, with up to 30% of the purchase price going to the platform when using Google or Apple’s payment methods. Epic criticizes what it calls monopolistic behavior by the platform owners.
Antitrust / App Store dispute with potential implications for platform monetization and app store policies.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Google filed a counterclaim seeking damages, alleging Fortnite in-app purchases outside the Google Play Store deprived Google of commissions.
- Google states Epic's use of its own payment system violated Google Play Store guidelines.
- Apple filed a damages lawsuit against Epic for revenue losses tied to an alternative payment system and alleged App Store rule violations; Apple previously fined Fortnite $6 million and removed the app from the App Store.
- Fortnite is not available on Android devices via the App Store.
- Since August 13, 2020, Fortnite users could choose among Google, Apple, or Epic's own payment system for in-app purchases, with up to 30% going to the platform for Google/Apple payments.
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