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Will the process not begin until July 2021?
- Epic game "Fortnite"
Photo: Herwin Bahar / dpa
The dispute between the makers of the popular smartphone game "Fortnite" and Apple could go on for a long time.
In any case, the responsible judge is not preparing for a trial until July 2021.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said in an online hearing on Monday that it would be appropriate to leave the decision to a jury.
Apple and the game company Epic Games would have to agree to this proposal.
In the end, the dispute could influence how apps are sold on smartphones - and how much money platforms such as Apple's App Store or Google's Play Store are allowed to withhold from the purchase price.
The dispute arose after Epic no longer wanted to adhere to the more than a decade-long requirement that virtual items in the game on iPhones and iPads can only be offered through Apple's in-app purchases system.
Apple keeps 30 percent of the purchase price.
Epic wants to return to the App Store with an injunction
After the iPhone group rejected changes to the terms and conditions, the Epic developers unauthorized built into the app the possibility to buy the items directly from Epic.
For this purpose, a hidden function was activated in the application in August that Epic had smuggled past Apple's app reviewers.
On the same day, Apple threw "Fortnite" with reference to the rule violation from the App Store.
Epic immediately went to court accusing Apple of unfair competition.
Apple claims damages in a counterclaim.
Epic is still trying to get back to the App Store via an injunction.
As a compromise proposal, Judge Rogers brought up that the 30 percent should not go to Apple, but to an escrow account until a decision is reached.
The Epic lawyers were skeptical because it would not change Apple's competitive position.
The judge criticized Epic for secretly introducing its own payment system.
At the same time, she asked Apple why the levy should be 30 percent - and not 10, 15 or 20 percent.
Google gives developers one year to convert
In addition to a payment system of its choice, Epic also wants to operate a kind of own app store on the Apple platform.
Google, in turn, is taking Apple as a model and stated on Monday that in future, without exception, all in-app purchases by developers who use Google's Play Store download platform must be made via the in-house payment system.
A tax of 30 percent is also due.
The rule has also existed for a long time, but so far Google has allowed a few exceptions.
So far, for example, Netflix or Spotify could offer a detour via a different payment system in the Play Store app.
Epic had also tried this with Fortnite in the Google Play Store, but was then thrown from the Play Store by Google.
App developers are given a transition period until September 30 of next year.
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pbe / dpa