Epic Games has submitted a cert petition to the Supreme Court, bringing their legal battle against Apple’s App Store fees back into the spotlight. The petition asks the highest court in the United States to reconsider whether Apple’s software business violates federal antitrust laws. This move could potentially reopen the prolonged legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple, which has been ongoing for nearly five years. Apple is also expected to file a petition in response to a previous ruling that favored Epic’s complaints to some extent.
The initial lawsuit from Epic Games against Apple was filed in 2020, after Fortnite was removed from the iOS App Store. This controversy arose when Epic intentionally violated App Store rules by providing players with a direct payment option for in-game currency, avoiding Apple’s fees. This action triggered Epic’s vigorous campaign to rally developers against Apple’s long-standing software practices. Although Apple largely won an appeals court battle earlier this year, a federal judge did rule that the tech giant violated California’s Unfair Competition Law by limiting developers from informing consumers about alternative payment options.
As the legal fight now heads towards the Supreme Court, Epic Games sought permission for developers to direct iPhone users to payment alternatives outside of Apple’s ecosystem. However, this request was rejected by Justice Elena Kagan in August. Unless the Supreme Court decides not to intervene, Apple’s existing rules will remain intact for now. The upcoming decision by the Supreme Court could have significant implications for both companies and potentially reshape the landscape of the App Store and its associated fees.
