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Apple Will Not Reinstate Epic’s Fortnite Developer Account

daringfireball.net

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

#71

Post by madeofpalk »

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?

Apple would be forced to comply with the court ruling, which does not require Apple to reinstate Epic's account and allow Fortnite back on the App Store.

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

#72

Post by gehsty »

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?

A short summary of the ruling is that Apple has no ‘duty to deal’ with Epic (you can’t force someone to do business with someone), so they can let them in when they want.

If Epic did not appeal, and submitted a version of fortnight that complied with App Store requirements I think they would be in the store rn.

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

#73

Post by madeofpalk »

isodev wrote: post #5
hughrr wrote: post #3

No winners either side. And of course no winning for their customers either. I increasingly want nothing to do with battling corporate giants.

Indeed. It was quite clear from the beginning this is more about Epic's bottom line than the interest of users or developers.

Of course? No company is a charity.

The perfect situation is when a companies' bottom line is in alignment with the interest of users and developers.

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

#74

Post by [deleted] »

InGoodFaith wrote: post #64
threatofrain wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (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. Why do you think this is plain wrong?

As you might recall - Apple did retaliate previously by also banning an associated Epic Account (for Unreal Engine and such) but was later legally forced not to [1] 1: https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/9/21492334/epic-fortnite-ap...

[deleted]

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

#75

Post by xwdv »

Jensson wrote: post #38
dubcanada wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is the most wealthy company in the world in trouble? Epic made 5 billion last year most from a game that can easily be replaced and will eventually (they all eventually get replaced), Apple has 200 billion in cash just sitting there and makes 60 billion a year on average. They are not even close.

This lawsuit will cost Apple way more than Epic. It might not hurt Apple that much as a percentage, but in absolute terms it will hurt them plenty. There is a reason they fight this so fervently.

No, people wish it will hurt Apple way more, but it won’t. It won’t even make a dent in their universe.

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

#76

Post by j56no »

mattzito wrote: post #67
concinds wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that Apple was allowed by the court to ban them indefinitely at their discretion, doesn't change the fact that making a public promise, in court (which was widely publicised at the time from what I recall) and reneging on it when their demands were met, is a little shocking, and certainly disappointing. The last time they made that promise was 8 days ago! > Apple says it won’t let Epic Games back in the App…

But Epic then promptly turned around and appealed. Why should Apple let epic back in when they’re saying they will “play by the rules” in one breath and saying “we don’t accept the courts ruling on the rules” in another?

while they follow the rules there’s no objective reason. If Apple is doing so only because they don’t like Epic, they are abusing their position

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

#77

Post by jasode »

madeofpalk wrote: post #65
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…

> Epic promises they will comply Did i miss something where they actually said that? My understanding is that in the past Sweeney's statements have consistently said they will not exclusively offer Apple's IAP which indicates they promise to not comply with the rules.

>>> Epic promises they will comply

>Did i miss something where they actually said that?

In this thread's Fireball blogpost is a link to Tim Sweeney's tweet of an email screenshot to Apple's Phil Schiller stating his "promise":

>Sep 16, 2021 at 5:01 PM; Subject: Fortnite and the App Store; To: Phil Schiller

>[..] Epic promises that it will adhere to Apple’s guidelines whenever and wherever we release products on Apple platforms.[...]

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

#78

Post by rawbot »

PedroBatista wrote: post #43
gameswithgo wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

This isn't Tim Cook's vision. The closed nature of the App Store is Steve Jobs' legacy. Cook just refuses to kill the Golden Goose.

I'm not a fan of Epic, but I hope Apple loses and we get some sort of alternate way to load applications on iOS devices.

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

#79

Post by zsmi »

concinds wrote: post #60
evercast wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe the key element here is "if they promised to comply with the rules". Since Epic has already filed an appeal, they don't seem to express a lot of willingness to comply with the rules.

I believe they have, explicitly: https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/phil-schiller-letter-2791x1969...

I think your mixing actually complying with the rules and promising to abide by the rules.

In your quote Cook said "if they abided by the rules" but in the Sweeney letter you linked to he said "Epic promises that it will adhere to Apple’s guidelines". Sweeney didn't say they actually did it.

Also, the daringfireball article includes the letter you linked to and covered this topic.

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

#80

Post by MikeDelta »

Jensson wrote: post #38
dubcanada wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is the most wealthy company in the world in trouble? Epic made 5 billion last year most from a game that can easily be replaced and will eventually (they all eventually get replaced), Apple has 200 billion in cash just sitting there and makes 60 billion a year on average. They are not even close.

This lawsuit will cost Apple way more than Epic. It might not hurt Apple that much as a percentage, but in absolute terms it will hurt them plenty. There is a reason they fight this so fervently.

Indeed, the future of their business model is at stake. If Epic succeeds and many more try to circumvent paying 30% to Apple, then they will feel it.
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