( Reuters) – Apple Inc (AAPL.O) on Tuesday submitted counter declares against “Fortnite” developer Epic Games requesting for lost App Store charges and other damages, and seeking an order to stop the game maker from operating its own in-app payment system.
Apple and Epic have actually been in a legal fight because August, when the maker of the popular video game launched its own in-app payment system to prevent what it called Apples monopolistic practices. Apples App Store requires designers to utilize Apples payment system and pay a 30% commission.
Apple obstructed Epics ability to distribute updates or new apps through the App Store, and Epic took legal action against Apple declaring that its App Store practices violate antitrust laws. The court enabled Apple to obstruct Epic from distributing new titles as the case plays out, however the existing variation of “Fortnite” still works, as does Epics payment system.
Apple had stated it would enable “Fortnite” back into the store if Epic removed the direct payment feature to abide by its designer agreement. However Epic has actually refused, saying abiding by Apples request would be “to conspire with Apple to keep their monopoly over in-app payments on iOS.”
Apples filing on Tuesday requests for monetary damages for Epics payment system, looking for “restitution and disgorgement of all revenues, earnings, compensation, benefits, and other ill-gotten gains gotten by Epic as a result of its conduct.”
Apple did not define just how much money it was seeking over the payment function. The company likewise asked for damages for damage to its reputation from disappointed “Fortnite” players and a public relations campaign Epic launched versus Apple, that included a parody of Apples “1984” tv commercial and a playable apple-headed character called “Tart Tycoon” that bears some resemblance to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook.
Apple likewise looked for a court order that would require Epic to disable its own payment system in “Fortnite” on Apple gadgets.
Reporting by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Richard Chang
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SUBMIT IMAGE: The popular computer game “Fortnite” by Legendary Games is imagined on a screen in this picture illustration August 14, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Illustration
