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Epic Games Sues Apple & Google In UK

 |  January 15, 2021

Fortnite maker Epic Games has sued Apple and Google in the United Kingdom over its removal of the battle royale action game from its Apple App Store for iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad, and the Google Play Store for Android mobile devices, reported Yahoo.

In a filing with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CTA), Epic claims that Apple is unfairly restricting competition from other app stores (the Apple App Store is the de facto space to buy apps and make in-app purchases), not allowing app developers to use their own payment processing services, and charging unfair fees on sales (Apple takes a cut of anywhere between 15-30% from all purchases).

While Epic alleges many of the same complaints against Google, alternate app stores and means of purchasing apps and content are allowed on Android devices outside of Google Play.

Epic is not seeking monetary damages (as highlighted in a statement below); instead, it is asking the CTA to compel both Apple and Google to reinstate Epic’s removed software and accounts, allow developers to use payment-processing systems in their apps (including their own) not owned by the platform owners, and let consumers download Epic’s software outside of the App Store and Google Play.

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