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[Draugoth]

Apple wins appeal court ruling in App Store legal battle with Epic Games | VGC

Federal court upholds decision first handed down in 2021…

www.videogameschronicle.com

Apple has again emerged victorious in its long-running legal battle with Epic Games.

As reported by Bloomberg, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower-court judge’s 2021 ruling largely rejecting Epic’s claims that Apple violated federal law by not allowing any competing marketplaces on its iOS platform.

Epic’s antitrust lawsuit against the iPhone maker began in August 2020 after it moved to circumvent Apple’s 30% platform fees with a new direct payment option in Fortnite, leading to the game’s removal from the App Store and the termination of Epic’s developer account.

“There is a lively and important debate about the role played in our economy and democracy by online transaction platforms with market power,” the three-judge appeals panel said in the case’s latest ruling.

“Our job as a federal court of appeals, however, is not to resolve that debate — nor could we even attempt to do so. Instead, in this decision, we faithfully applied existing precedent to the facts.”

 

[LordCBH]

Incoming 48 tweet thread by Tim Sweeney.

 

[Fuz]

My dream of seeing them both lose is gone...

 

[diffusionx]

*laughs in Tim Apple*

 

[ReBurn]

In the end it's probably not going to matter considering the EU's digital marketing act. It's only a matter of time before Apple has to loosen its grip on the iOS app ecosystem.

 

[Power Pro]

Not really one to want to agree with Apple on this one, but at the same time...Epic's argument always seemed like bull shit to me. Being on iOS devices was never a right, you either wanted to be on there and let them take their cut, or you didn't want to do that. It was their choice. It's a closed system, what made them think they had any right to debate it. They aren't forced to be on there.

 

[CGNoire]

Fuck Apple and there Closed Garden.

#TeamSweeney

 

[ReBurn]

Not really one to want to agree with Apple on this one, but at the same time...Epic's argument always seemed like bull shit to me. Being on iOS devices was never a right, you either wanted to be on there and let them take their cut, or you didn't want to do that. It was their choice. It's a closed system, what made them think they had any right to debate it. They aren't forced to be on there.

The whole situation Is weird to me. Companies like Google get away with charging higher in-app prices than external prices and Apple doesn't remove their apps. I pay for a YouTube Premium family plan through Google because it's 6 bucks a month cheaper than subscribing through iOS. It's not the only app that way. There must be some condition that Epic screwed up.

 

[ClosBSAS]

Fuck Sweeney and his closed ecosystem and moneyhats

#teamapple

 

[Pejo]

Well since they both couldn't lose, I guess I'll take this outcome. Tim's been increasingly unhinged lately, maybe he should take a step back and relax and stop moneyhatting exclusives in the PC sphere while he's at it.

 

[oldergamer]

I still prefer oranges!!!

 

[Warnen]

Fuck Apple and there Closed Garden.

#TeamSweeney

Yeah I mean if there was only an alternative to an Iphone....

 

[TVexperto]

loosers on era are celebrating this… „I dont want sideloading!“

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Not really one to want to agree with Apple on this one, but at the same time...Epic's argument always seemed like bull shit to me. Being on iOS devices was never a right, you either wanted to be on there and let them take their cut, or you didn't want to do that. It was their choice. It's a closed system, what made them think they had any right to debate it. They aren't forced to be on there.

Wrong. That’s exactly the logic that leads to monopolies forming.
US might be ok with it since it forgot Teddy Rosevelt, EU is not.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

Apple is reportedly preparing to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone

You might be able to have more than one app store.

www.theverge.com

Sideloading of apps coming in 2024 - in EU.

 

[ReBurn]

loosers on era are celebrating this… „I dont want sideloading!“

Well, the whole "we do it to keep you safe" explanation is complete bullshit. They don't do it to keep people safe. They do it to make money. Similar to how Nintendo's seal of quality didn't ensure that games were good. It made sure that Nintendo controlled all aspects of game delivery.

I don't necessarily want side loading, either. But I also don't want Apple to be able to arbitrarily block my ability to install and use apps that I've paid for on the device that I paid their premium price for, which has happened to me several times. They don't do it to my MacBook. Why should they be able to do it to my other devices?

 

[UnNamed]

Fuck... fuck... Ehm, who am I supposed to say fuck?

 

[diffusionx]

Wrong. That’s exactly the logic that leads to monopolies forming.
US might be ok with it since it forgot Teddy Rosevelt, EU is not.

iOS is objectively not a monopoly, in any way shape or form. Apple is exerting control over its own platform, which is a small minority of the phone market. It has the right to do that.

 

[NinjaBoiX]

Not to cheerlead for Apple, but this seems like a pretty cut and dry case. Either play the game or don’t, but don’t join in then try to change the rules.

Fuck Apple and their Closed Garden.

#TeamSweeney

OK, so fuck them and leave them to it.

Don’t get in bed with them, then complain that their farts stink.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Well, the whole "we do it to keep you safe" explanation is complete bullshit. They don't do it to keep people safe. They do it to make money. Similar to how Nintendo's seal of quality didn't ensure that games were good. It made sure that Nintendo controlled all aspects of game delivery.

I don't necessarily want side loading, either. But I don't also want Apple to be able to arbitrarily block my ability to install and use apps that I've paid for on the device that I paid their premium price for, which has happened to me several times. They don't do it to my MacBook. Why should they be able to do it to my other devices?

Don't buy iPhones then.

No, really, don't buy iphones. Or macs. Most of their sales strategy just revolves around branding, aka tricking you into thinking their products are worth the high prices they charge for.

 

[Puscifer]

Incoming 48 tweet thread by Tim Sweeney.

I feel like he was the nerd that hissed at people in the classroom from the way he behaves. He's just rich enough now to extend that same weirdness to the masses

 

[Same ol G]

There's nothing to celebrate here because fuck Apple but also fuck Epic, what did they think they could just one day decide to stop paying.
Really the mentality of some people when they get a bit of power.

 

[SlimySnake]

Closed gardens is how we get Sony and Apple spending billions on R&D, exclusives, and other defining features to make their products more attractive. That 30% revenue is what pays for it all.

 

[AJUMP23]

Whoever wins we all lose.

 

[01011001]

Apple is trash

 

[nowhat]

As reported by Bloomberg, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower-court judge’s 2021 ruling largely rejecting Epic’s claims that Apple violated federal law by not allowing any competing marketplaces on its iOS platform.

Meanwhile, in EU: https://wccftech.com/ios-17-sideloading-not-supported-in-main-apple-market/

 

[calistan]

Don't buy iPhones then.

No, really, don't buy iphones. Or macs. Most of their sales strategy just revolves around branding, aka tricking you into thinking their products are worth the high prices they charge for.

Shit, I wish you'd been around to warn me before I wasted so much time and money buying Macs and iPhones for the last fuck-knows-how-many years! I didn't realise I'd been duped.

 

[ReBurn]

Don't buy iPhones then.

No, really, don't buy iphones. Or macs. Most of their sales strategy just revolves around branding, aka tricking you into thinking their products are worth all the money they charge for.

My MacBook is worth every penny that I paid for it. It's better for what I do in nearly every way than a Windows or Linux box. I have a Windows laptop for Azure and .NET stuff but for my personal projects Mac is heads doen the most stable and well-integrated platform I use. I have a Mac Mini that I've been using as a personal server for more than 10 years and it's been solid. They make good stuff.

The thing about iOS is most people don't know that they're trapped until after they buy in. "If you don't want us to control everything you do then you shouldn't have purchased our stuff" is as anti-consumer as it gets.

 

[demigod]

Good, fuck Epic. Go make your own phone and platform morons.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Shit, I wish you'd been around to warn me before I wasted so much time and money buying Macs and iPhones for the last fuck-knows-how-many years! I didn't realise I'd been duped.

My wife and kids all wanted iPhones, so I bought them Android phones instead and patiently explained to them that I have a philosophical problem with Apple’s closed garden ecosystem.

Now my kids hate me and my wife hasn’t slept with me in months. But I still feel good that I stood up for my principles.

 

[Nydius]

I‘m not going to cheerlead for either company as they’re both pretty shit but, that said, Epic’s lawsuit always stunk of massive hypocrisy. While they whined about Apple’s walled garden, they were actively using their money to build their own on PC, including dropping truckloads of money on developers to sway them to ignore Steam.

Sweeney is angry that he can’t control Apple’s walled garden and replace it with his own.

 

[coffinbirth]

Don't buy iPhones then.

No, really, don't buy iphones. Or macs. Most of their sales strategy just revolves around branding, aka tricking you into thinking their products are worth the high prices they charge for.

Yeah, who wants a faster processor, better parts, build quality, software support and security?
Not to mention the fact that Samsung's flagship Android phone is MORE expensive than the 1TB iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Great argument.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Don't buy iPhones then.

No, really, don't buy iphones. Or macs. Most of their sales strategy just revolves around branding, aka tricking you into thinking their products are worth the high prices they charge for.

I bought an iMac just to spite you.

 

[Walter Matthau]

I hate Sweeney's fake "fighting for the little guy" act he puts on whenever he attempts to extract every penny of profit possible from partners.

Anyway, Apple will be forced to change in the near future due to EU mandates.

 

[digital_ghost]

I still prefer oranges!!!

I prefer melons. Two large melons to be exact. I love stuffing my face with them.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I hate Sweeney's fake "fighting for the little guy" act he puts on whenever he attempts to extract every penny of profit possible from partners.

Anyway, Apple will be forced to change in the near future due to EU mandates.

And let's remember. This is all because he wanted more money out of Fortnite.

Fuck this dude and fuck fortnite.

 

[Ronin_7]

Apple can't stop winning

Funniest shit was MS wasting their time in court with this shit and getting humiliated by Apple lawyers

"Put up or shut up"

 

[SmokedMeat]

Fuck Tim. If he could have a monopoly in the PC marketplace he’d do it in a heartbeat.

 

[SteelCurtain 59]

Hopefully it continues to get appealed, so both continue to lose money and maybe we get some more fun information like with the first trial. Also I don't like either company, but I don't like Apple more

 

[gothmog]

Another reminder why Microsoft is going hard to fill their own walled garden.

Oh and also that were absolutely corrupt as a society.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Fuck Tim. If he could have a monopoly in the PC marketplace he’d do it in a heartbeat.

Probably, but both companies are shit.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Don't buy iPhones then.

No, really, don't buy iphones. Or macs. Most of their sales strategy just revolves around branding, aka tricking you into thinking their products are worth the high prices they charge for.

the number of people who got mad at this lmao

 

[theHFIC]

I'm a simple man: I see Epic lose to Apple about anything and I get a slight dopamine hit of joy.

 

[Dick Jones]

Whoever wins we all lose.

Alien vs Predator?

 

[CrashNBurn_281]

Not a fan of Apple, but it is their platform. You dont like it, then go somewhere else.

 

[AJUMP23]

Alien vs Predator?

These are two predators.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Epic takes a very similar stance with the assets that they provide on the Unreal Asset Store.
If Epic provides the assets, they can only be used in Unreal.

Lets see how fast Team U wants those meta humans used on other platforms

 

[DeepEnigma]

Yeah I mean if there was only an alternative to an Iphone....

The great duopoly.

Illusion of choice.

 

[coffinbirth]

the number of people who got mad at this lmao

2

Only two people even acknowledged you, lol.

Also, anger=/=pity

 

[JCK75]

My dream of seeing them both lose is gone...

There is something fun about watching two companies. I hate go at each other and I do hate that there has to be a win for one of them.