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Reflection of the "Fortnite" lettering in the Apple logo: The US government recently strengthened competition supervision at large tech companies
Photo: CHRIS DELMAS / AFP
Epic Games, known among other things for the online game "Fortnite", is getting support from 35 US states in the ongoing App Store dispute with Apple.
In a so-called amicus curiae statement, the states, led by Utah, called for the appeals process to overturn last year's ruling, which was largely in favor of Apple.
State attorneys general argue, among other things, that California District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' interpretation of US anti-monopoly laws jeopardizes future enforcement of competition rules. In the back of their minds they probably have a lawsuit against Google.
In the original trial before the district court, Epic Games wanted to win the right to operate its own app marketplace on the iPhone - and failed.
District Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Epic Games could not prove that Apple acted like a monopolist.
She also decided that Apple developers can no longer prohibit users from pointing out ways to buy items cheaper outside of the App Store.
However, this regulation was put on hold by the Court of Appeal until further notice.
The US government is also speaking out
Microsoft – once targeted by antitrust authorities – also issued a statement in favor of Epic Games.
The software giant, which is active in the gaming business with its Xbox console and various game studios, referred, among other things, to Apple's extraordinary power as gatekeeper for the App Store.
The US administration of President Joe Biden said in its own submission to the Court of Appeals that it did not support either party.
Your request to apply the anti-monopoly requirements differently than Judge Gonzalez Rogers could ultimately benefit Epic Games.
Washington recently strengthened competition supervision for large tech companies.
According to journalist Michael Acton, comments that tend to support Apple's view of things will be submitted at a later date.
iOS apps are only available in the App Store
The conflict is ultimately about whether Apple's in-house App Store remains the only source from which applications can be loaded onto the iPhone.
The focus is also on the fees of 30 or 15 percent that providers have to pay to Apple for digital transactions via the apps.
At the beginning of the dispute, Epic Games had installed a payment option in its "Fortnite" app without consulting the iPhone manufacturer, which was intended to bypass Apple's payment system.
After the feature was activated, Apple threw "Fortnite" from the App Store for violating the terms of the contract.
On the other hand, Epic Games sued.
With the Epic Games Store, the company itself operates an online marketplace for computer games – with lower fees of twelve percent.
mbo/dpa
