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Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

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Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#81

Post by ocdtrekkie »

This just seems like a dumb move on Apple's part. It's self-sabotaging. It hurts their legal case, it hurts their public image, and it hurts their platform, as Unreal Engine is used in both iOS and macOS games. Not that many people were getting Apple platforms for games before, but they've just shoved one of the most popular engines off the platform.

If the judge grants Epic a TRO, Apple is going to be in deep crud. Should be a good early sign of how the judicial system sees the case.

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#82

Post by bagels »

muska3 wrote: post #36

Is it bad that I hope they do kill Epic's account? Epic launches a preconceived plan with media attacks and the most ridiculous 1984 reference that actually doesn't make sense in the current context against Apple. If I'm Apple, even if this is a straight up attack on me, I just follow the rules in my TOS and block them like I do others who don't follow the TOS. If you don't like the TOS, fine you don't have to be on…

How doesn't it make sense? Seems pretty on-point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_(advertisement)

In his 1983 Apple keynote address, Steve Jobs read the following story before showcasing a preview of the commercial:[21]

"[...] It is now 1984. It appears IBM wants it all. Apple is perceived to be the only hope to offer IBM a run for its money. Dealers initially welcoming IBM with open arms now fear an IBM dominated and controlled future. They are increasingly turning back to Apple as the only force that can ensure their future freedom. IBM wants it all and is aiming its guns on its last obstacle to industry control: Apple. Will Big Blue dominate the entire computer industry? The entire information age? Was George Orwell right about 1984?"

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#84

Post by dstaley »

muska3 wrote: post #36

Is it bad that I hope they do kill Epic's account? Epic launches a preconceived plan with media attacks and the most ridiculous 1984 reference that actually doesn't make sense in the current context against Apple. If I'm Apple, even if this is a straight up attack on me, I just follow the rules in my TOS and block them like I do others who don't follow the TOS. If you don't like the TOS, fine you don't have to be on…

> I just follow the rules in my TOS and block them like I do others who don't follow the TOS

I'm fairly sure Apple doesn't terminate the developer account simply for failing an app review. I think this is a specific executive decision based on the fact that Epic is unlikely to rectify the issue, which could be seen as retaliation.

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#85

Post by Alupis »

almost_usual wrote: post #57
jhloa2 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Epic has more revenue streams than just Apple's ecosystems.

Didn’t Google just shut down their deal with OnePlus though? I mean if they’re no longer on good terms with Apple or Google that has to be a big chunk of their revenue stream?

EPIC does exist outside of the mobile space.

They produce one of the top Cross Platform Game Engines, and produce many high quality games, including Fortnite which was massive well before any mobile version was produced.

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#86

Post by Bud »

thedz wrote: post #54
Bud wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary, there is a very solid basis. Epic has access to Apple's platform and dev tools because it has (or had) an agreement with Apple whereby it paid a percentage of profits earned in exchange for said access. Epic, btw, has the exact same kind of agreement with Sony, Microsoft, and Google, for access to their gaming platforms. All three of those companies are extracting the same 30% fee that Apple is. But…

> Epic, btw, has the exact same kind of agreement with Sony, Microsoft, and Google, for access to their gaming platforms. All three of those companies are extracting the same 30% fee that Apple is. You don't have to agree to Epic's terms to access the platforms from Sony, MS and Google. You do, however, have to agree to Apple's terms to access their Platform.

Nitpicking, and I'm not even sure that's correct. Regardless, it's not relevant. What Epic is griping about here is the 30% fee, but they're not acting or speaking in good faith about that. They're pretending that fee is somehow onerous, but they pay that exact same fee to every other platform, too.

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#87

Post by [deleted] »

mantap wrote: post #68
TylerE wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Companies shouldn't be allowed to fire customers that blatantly break rules the customer agreed to?

Usually when you fire a customer they can go to one of your competitors. This just proves Epic's argument. There is no competing App Store on iOS because it's not allowed. If Apple "fires" you then your users can no longer install the app onto their own phones. Imagine if Microsoft "fired" Adobe and as a result nobody could install Photoshop on Windows anymore.

[deleted]

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#88

Post by whatever1 »

fooey wrote: post #22
draw_down wrote: post #9

I don’t have a side in this fight, but I do admire how Epic has clearly planned this out to wring every ounce of publicity and goodwill they can. I don’t find this particular measure (shutting down the accounts) particularly sinister. Epic has made it abundantly clear they don’t like the App Store’s rules and regulations. That’s fine but it means you won’t be selling on the App Store. I see this as Apple taking them…

I don't think they planned this well at all. It feels like rage fueled flailing they didn't think through. What is it going to do for Epic's cash flow if they're not allowed on any app stores for literal years while court cases filter through? What is it going to do for their game store and engine selling business to be indefinitely evicted from the Apple ecosystem entirely? Were I a company using Unreal Engine to de…

Apple just showed that it is game developer hostile. Gamers will just migrate to whatever platform their games are available. Devs will lose tons of money, users will lose their investment in the ios ecosystem and apple will lose its cut. It’s a lose lose lose situation and Apple is the one to blame.

Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th

#89

Post by askl56 »

0x402DF854 wrote: post #23

From a preliminary statement of Epic's motion: > Just over two weeks ago, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was asked during a Congressional hearing whether Apple has “ever retaliated against or disadvantaged a developer who went public about their frustrations with the App Store”. Mr. Cook testified, “We do not retaliate or bully people. It’s strongly against our company culture.”

https://twitter.com/slasher/status/1295434558112960519?s=21

This may have consequences for Unreal Engine too.

Without a dev account, how can they maintain it?

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