“Epic” battle with Apple and Google
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The maker of the phenomenally successful video game, Fortnite is suing Apple and Google for what it claims are monopolistic business practices
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Jun 16, 2020: Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney (above) tells reporters, “...iOS
App Store monopoly protects only Apple profit, not device security.”
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Jul 28: He tweets: “...30% store fees...come off the top, before funding any developer costs. As a result, Apple and Google make more profit from most developers’ games than the developers themselves. That is terribly unfair and exploitative.”
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Aug 13: Epic begins direct payment option in Fortnite for iPhone and iPad, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase scheme and violating its App Store guidelines
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Direct payment option also added to Fortnite on Android, violating Google Play Store rules
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Apple removes Fortnite from App Store
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Epic files lawsuit against Apple, accusing it of “unfair and anti- competitive actions”
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Epic releases Nineteen Eighty- Fortnite video that parodies Apple’s iconic 1984 ad. Whereas Apple’s ad portrayed IBM as evil Big Brother, Epic aims to show that Apple is now
dominant power
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#FreeFortnite
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Spotify sides with Epic Games
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Google removes Fortnite from Play Store
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Epic files similar anti- competitive lawsuit against Google
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Aug 17: Epic reveals its Apple Developer Program account will be closed on Aug 28 unless it reinstates in- app payment system
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Reports indicate Epic is seeking to form “coalition of Apple critics”
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Fortnite annual earnings $1bn
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Sources: MacRumors, Bloomberg
Pictures: Epic Games, Creative Commons
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