Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea • Hacker News Board

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#21

Post by hermitdev » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 2:47 AM UTC

staticman2 wrote: post #16

azinman2 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it wasn’t the law then when they violated it.

Rejecting an application for app store reinstatement would presumably be a new ban, legally speaking, and would be covered by the new law.

I don't think you're correct here, but of course I'm not a lawyer. Epic is asking the ban to be undone, an appeal of the existing ban. The ban was for violating TOS, nevermind the TOS presumably has to change for the Korean market. I could see this going either way if it were argued in a US court, truthfully.

I think this is more for optics in the larger anticompetitive suit Epic has against Apple going on in other markets. Korea isn't a small market, but it pales in comparison if Epic can use it as a pry bar to get back into US, EU markets on iOS.

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#22

Post by asdfasgasdgasdg » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 2:58 AM UTC

judge2020 wrote: post #18

okwubodu wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's almost certainly more trouble than it's financially worth This is the same company that nuked their money-printer of a mobile game to prove a point.

I wonder why both sides turned down Gonzales-Rodgers' proposition to allow the game back on and place Apple's 30% in an escrow account until the case is decided. https://twitter.com/PatrickMcGee_/status/1310648048976982016...

It is well for Epic for this dispute to remain live in the eyes of the public, because a legislative solution in their favor is possibly more likely than a judicial one. On the other hand, Apple doesn't want the world to see how the sky fails to fall in when their iron grip is slightly loosened.

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#23

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 3:09 AM UTC

smoldesu wrote: post #2

I gotta say, this is outright spiteful on Epic's behalf. Not necessarily bad, but it's always interesting to watch when companies make things personal like this. It's almost certainly more trouble than it's financially worth to relaunch Fortnite's iOS build in a single country , but I suppose we're here to see how they react.

[deleted]

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#24

Post by setpatchaddress » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 3:10 AM UTC

judge2020 wrote: post #19

pcr910303 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The law isn't even active yet, to say nothing of retroactive. It just only passed the National Assembly (i.e. Congress), not even announced by the government. It probably won't happen, but theoretically the government can reject the law as well.

Sounds like a PR play then.

AKA Epic’s only play with this lawsuit.

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#25

Post by dustintrex » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 3:25 AM UTC

pcr910303 wrote: post #14

dustintrex wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? Of all the countries in the world, Korea is probably the most fanatical about gaming, and the payoff for getting Fortnite into the Apple Store would be considerable.

> Korea is probably the most fanatical about gaming But Fortnite has never cared about Korea, most of the fanaticism on gaming is for PC games (mobile non-casual games were never big), and Fortnite has never even had any relevance here. As a Korean, it feels very, very bitter and spiteful for Epic to mention Korea like this. As if... Epic has ever thought of Korea as a somewhat meaningful market for Fortnite.

Sorry, can you provide some more context? What did Epic do to/in Korea specifically to make you feel that way?

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#26

Post by ak217 » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 3:52 AM UTC

smoldesu wrote: post #2

I gotta say, this is outright spiteful on Epic's behalf. Not necessarily bad, but it's always interesting to watch when companies make things personal like this. It's almost certainly more trouble than it's financially worth to relaunch Fortnite's iOS build in a single country , but I suppose we're here to see how they react.

This is hardly spiteful compared to Apple's move to cut off all games made using Unreal Engine from the app store, back when Epic started their campaign. (Apple was only stopped from doing so by the court after Epic filed their lawsuit.)

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#27

Post by smoldesu » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 4:05 AM UTC

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #17

smoldesu wrote: post #2

I gotta say, this is outright spiteful on Epic's behalf. Not necessarily bad, but it's always interesting to watch when companies make things personal like this. It's almost certainly more trouble than it's financially worth to relaunch Fortnite's iOS build in a single country , but I suppose we're here to see how they react.

It is not spiteful to demand what is yours by right. Apple has been abusing their market position for years, and Korea is making legal inroads on fixing that situation. It is well that Epic should demand Apple follow this long overdue law.

I fully agree, but that doesn't change Epic's motivations one way or the other.

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#28

Post by smoldesu » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 4:08 AM UTC

judge2020 wrote: post #18

okwubodu wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's almost certainly more trouble than it's financially worth This is the same company that nuked their money-printer of a mobile game to prove a point.

I wonder why both sides turned down Gonzales-Rodgers' proposition to allow the game back on and place Apple's 30% in an escrow account until the case is decided. https://twitter.com/PatrickMcGee_/status/1310648048976982016...

Probably because it presents a lose-lose situation for both parties involved. Epic is still getting their profits cut, and Apple can't be certain if they'll even profit off IAPs at all. In my eyes, that's legal stalemate.

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#29

Post by aero-glide2 » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 4:22 AM UTC

azinman2 wrote: post #3

If they violated rules previously and got booted (and then sued in a very public battle), why would they be allowed back?

Not all terms of conditions are legally enforceable. And it's not as simple as "they are a private company they can do whatever they want". There are anti trust laws.

Re: Epic tests Apple with new request: let us relaunch Fortnite in Korea

#30

Post by Salgat » Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 4:35 AM UTC

hermitdev wrote: post #21

staticman2 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rejecting an application for app store reinstatement would presumably be a new ban, legally speaking, and would be covered by the new law.

I don't think you're correct here, but of course I'm not a lawyer. Epic is asking the ban to be undone, an appeal of the existing ban. The ban was for violating TOS, nevermind the TOS presumably has to change for the Korean market. I could see this going either way if it were argued in a US court, truthfully. I think this is more for optics in the larger anticompetitive suit Epic has against Apple going on in other m…

This would simply open up a new antitrust lawsuit though, since it's pretty easy to connect the continued ban to 3rd party payments which Apple is now legally required to allow.