![]() “That is not a defense under the antitrust laws,” Epic’s lawyer said. Epic also accused Apple of trying to convince the judge it is a “benevolent overlord” of the iOS ecosystem that should be allowed to continue to operate without competition “because it’s worked out okay so far.” On Monday, Epic pleaded with Gonzalez Rogers for an order banning Apple from implementing some of its policies and forcing Apple to allow third-party app stores to compete with its own proprietary app store. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesĮpic Games and Apple spar over consoles and walled gardens on opening day of trial today to begin hearing arguments to determine if Apple is running a monopoly in its Apple App Store and whether the company should be allowed to take a 30 percent cut of revenue made from purchases on the platform. Apple and video game maker Epic games are appearing in court. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 03: Epic CEO Tim Sweeney (L) arrives at federal court on in Oakland, California. (Fortnite was kicked out of Apple’s App Store last summer for flouting Apple’s rules on digital payments by directing players to its own, outside system.) ![]() That alleged monopoly creates opportunities for Apple to impose restrictive terms on iOS app makers, Epic claims, such as requiring a 30% cut of all in-app sales of digital goods and services. Wrapping up the three-week trial, which saw top executives including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney called in for questioning, the judge said Monday she will strive to issue an opinion by mid-August, though it could take longer given the thousands of pages generated by the groundbreaking antitrust case.Įpic has argued Apple’s walled-garden ecosystem makes it impossible to download iPhone and iPad apps from anywhere but Apple’s own app store, making Apple a monopoly owner. In a matter of weeks, Gonzalez Rogers is set to decide whether Apple is an agile innovator that reaped just rewards for building a popular app business, or if it is, as Epic alleges, a monopolist that uses its control over the iOS App Store to illegally harm competition, restrict innovation and keep prices high. The outcome of that analysis could reshape how digital app stores work or uphold Apple’s prime position in its app ecosystem. A weeks-long blockbuster antitrust trial between Apple and Epic Games culminated on Monday with the maker of the hit video game Fortnite calling Apple an “overlord” and the iPhone maker suggesting Epic is paving the way for a “scary” future for iOS customers.Īfter spending days presenting reams of dueling economic analysis and documentary evidence, the two sides landed on Monday where they began: arguing over how Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers should interpret Apple’s role in a sprawling digital economy.
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