Apple and Epic Games Spar Over Returning Fortnite to the App Store - The New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple and Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, sparred in federal court on Monday over whether to reinstate the popular game in Apple’s App Store, raising antitrust arguments that may reshape a key part of the internet economy and the way people use smartphones.

Their fight began last month when Epic tried collecting its own payments for Fortnite without going through the App Store, breaking Apple’s rules.

Apple then booted Fortnite from the App Store; Epic responded by suing Apple, accusing it of violating antitrust laws.

On Monday, Epic said Apple’s unwillingness to let it use its own payment system was anticompetitive and monopolistic.

In the coming days, she is expected to rule on whether Apple must allow Fortnite back into its App Store and support Unreal Engine, Epic’s software development tools, in the interim.

Much of the scrutiny of Apple has centered on the power it holds over developers in its App Store.

But Epic has said Apple’s power creates an unlevel playing field and is unfair.

Apple said it would reinstate Fortnite to its App Store only if Epic complied with its rules.

“They don’t need this court’s emergency help — they have the keys to free Fortnite right there in their pocket,” said Apple’s attorney, Theodore J.

Facebook lamented that starting next year, it would have to “yet again pay Apple the full 30 percent App Store tax.”

On Monday, Google also said it would no longer allow companies to circumvent its app store fees, as companies like Spotify and Netflix have done in recent years