Tim Cook in court defends Apple in the legal battle with Epic Games, the games company that accuses him of monopoly on the App Store.
"For us, customers are everything, we try to offer them an integrated solution of hardware, software and services", explains from the witness stand questioned by the lawyers of Apple and Epic Games.
The eyes of investors and others are focused on the legal clash, given that Cupertino is in the crosshairs of the authorities of various countries around the world for its alleged dominant position.
District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers asked Cook to explain why Apple does not allow its customers to use alternative, cheaper options to purchase virtual goods and content directly from developers, only allowing purchases through the App Store. "It is important to know that sometimes there is a conflict between what developers want and what users want," says Cook, reiterating that Apple makes its decisions in the best interests of users.
On the front of the commissions paid by the apps to the App Store, at the center of the clash with Epic Games - the CEO observes that 85% of the apps on the virtual store in Cupertino are free, the rest pay commissions of 15 or 30%. The majority, he adds, pay commissions of 15%. Then he explains why developers can't advertise other forms of payment in their apps: it would be as if Apple put a sign inside the Best Buy electronics store asking consumers to cross the street and go and buy. iPhone in an Apple Store.