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Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

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Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#41

Post by Jensson »

ribit wrote: post #30
Jensson wrote: post #2

> Epic will resubmit Fortnite to the App Store if you adhere to the plain language of the court order and allow apps to include buttons and external links that direct customers to other purchasing mechanisms without onerous terms or impediments to a good user experience. That seems very reasonable, why wouldn't Apple be forced to comply with the court order?

I guess it has to do with the fact that Epic has appealed the court verdict. I can understand that Apple doesn’t feel like doing business with someone who has an active legal case against them.

That makes sense, thanks! The dispute isn't resolved yet, easy to understand. I assume if Epic accepted the court ruling then Apple would be forced to comply?

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#42

Post by MomoXenosaga »

Aerroon wrote: post #13
jasode wrote: post #8

It's interesting to compare the situation Epic got itself into with previous episodes of Facebook & Google breaking Apple's rules. When Facebook and Google misused Developer Enterprise certificates to go beyond internal testing and distribute apps to end-consumers , Apple revoked their accounts. Both Facebook & Google simply admitted they screwed up and Apple reinstated their accounts.[1] No lawsuits. Epic broke Appl…

I don't think that quote is quite as apt though. Epic seems to be in far less trouble than Apple. Epic might not have gained what they wanted, but a lot of it is a giant like of evidence about Apple for other countries and cases.

Epic is playing the long game. The price Apple is asking is just not acceptable and they have the money to fight it.

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#43

Post by PedroBatista »

gameswithgo wrote: post #33
jasode wrote: post #8

It's interesting to compare the situation Epic got itself into with previous episodes of Facebook & Google breaking Apple's rules. When Facebook and Google misused Developer Enterprise certificates to go beyond internal testing and distribute apps to end-consumers , Apple revoked their accounts. Both Facebook & Google simply admitted they screwed up and Apple reinstated their accounts.[1] No lawsuits. Epic broke Appl…

Tim is in the fight for idealogical reasons, not calculated business ones.

And thank "God" for people like him[1]. Life is unbearable under Tim Cook's "vision", the greed, arrogance and pettiness is at an all-time high, and it's not like it was low before..

[1] Also, nothing is black and white, of course Tim/Epic were looking to get more money from what their customers paid.

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#44

Post by sprafa »

golemotron wrote: post #37
vimy wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think Epic intended to win the lawsuit. It’s part of a broader strategy to force lawmakers to change app store rules.

The company that buys the remains of Epic can carry on with the lawsuit, I guess.

The remains?? You clearly don’t realise how successful epic is

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#45

Post by nyx-aiur »

Jensson wrote: post #41
ribit wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess it has to do with the fact that Epic has appealed the court verdict. I can understand that Apple doesn’t feel like doing business with someone who has an active legal case against them.

That makes sense, thanks! The dispute isn't resolved yet, easy to understand. I assume if Epic accepted the court ruling then Apple would be forced to comply?

No, because in the ruling it was stated that apple has every right to not only ban epic but also to ban every epic subsidiary if they so desire.

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#46

Post by Aeolun »

threatofrain wrote: post #19
Jensson wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also on the "reasonableness" of Epic's promises... I'm not sure why making a pinky promise in a non-legal setting is any more serious than a legal contract they already choose to break. Apple said they would reinstate Epic based on a pinky promise, they just wanted more in the promise they didn't question the promise itself. Pinky promises are absolutely a thing, not sure why you are ridiculing that part here.

Legal contracts are also a thing? In terms of seriousness, if you're willing to violate legal contracts, then what is the value of a pinky promise? The value of any promise is the sum of your credibility.

Well, violating the legal contract is just a cost of doing business, that’s why Epic shrugs and pays 6M.

I’d argue that the pinky promise means more.

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#47

Post by helsinkiandrew »

Jensson wrote: post #2

> Epic will resubmit Fortnite to the App Store if you adhere to the plain language of the court order and allow apps to include buttons and external links that direct customers to other purchasing mechanisms without onerous terms or impediments to a good user experience. That seems very reasonable, why wouldn't Apple be forced to comply with the court order?

> why wouldn't Apple be forced to comply with the court order?

They seem to be waiting until all appeals have finished:

"Apple will not consider any further requests for reinstatement until the district court's judgement becomes final and nonappealable."

https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/144071177248318669...

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#48

Post by tsimionescu »

Jensson wrote: post #16
threatofrain wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple is complying with court rulings, including the judgment that Apple's contract with Epic is valid and enforceable. Apple could hypothetically ban all of Epic's accounts forever, but only the Fortnite account is banned. This appears to be a win for... payment vendors. At this point Epic can only hope for legislative action. Also on the "reasonableness" of Epic's promises... I'm not sure why making a pinky promise…

But wasn't Epic banned just because they broke that rule the court now ordered Apple not to enforce? Isn't it strange that this lawsuit would result in Apple now being able to enforce that rule only for Epic and they aren't allowed to enforce it for anyone else? Is that how it is supposed to work?

No, Epic directly offered in-game payment options for the Epic currency. The judge ordered Apple to allow in-game links to online purchase options, not to directly allow in-app purchases from 3rd parties.

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#49

Post by concinds »

This article doesn't mention the fact that Apple lied, and that Tim Cook "promised" in court that Epic would be let back in the app store if they promised to comply with the rules. Epic made that exact promise [1]. And now Apple's telling them: F you.

What's going on at Apple?

[1]: https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/apple-lied-breaks-... and https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/144071146788861543...

And the relevant quote from the Tim Cook testimony:

> Apple has said that banning Epic Games was its only viable action, but at the same time, the company offered to let Fortnite back in the App Store if it agreed to the App Store rules. "Why would Apple do that if Epic is a bad actor?" the lawyer asked Cook. "It would benefit users to have them back on the store, if they abided by the rules," Cook said. "The user is trapped between two companies and it's not the right thing to do to the user." Cook said that Apple was not thinking about money at all, and Fortnite's revenue was not a consideration.

From: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/05/21/tim-cook-epic-apple-tri...

Re: Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

#50

Post by threatofrain »

concinds wrote: post #49

This article doesn't mention the fact that Apple lied, and that Tim Cook "promised" in court that Epic would be let back in the app store if they promised to comply with the rules. Epic made that exact promise [1]. And now Apple's telling them: F you. What's going on at Apple? [1]: https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/apple-lied-breaks-... and https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/144071146788861543... And t…

> (2) a declaration that (i) Apple’s termination of the DPLA and the related agreements between Epic Games and Apple was valid, lawful, and enforceable, and (ii) Apple has the contractual right to terminate its DPLA with any or all of Epic Games’ wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games’ control at any time and at Apple’s sole discretion.

Lest anyone think Apple is ignoring the court.

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