Latest Update on the Legal Battle Between Apple and Epic Games: What You Need to Know

In a recent development, the iPhone maker Apple has denied violating a court order regarding its App Store and has urged a California federal judge to dismiss a request by “Fortnite” developer Epic Games to hold it in contempt. The arguments were made in a filing to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, who oversaw Epic’s lawsuit accusing Apple of antitrust violations due to its strict control over app downloads and in-app transactions.

Apple criticized Epic’s attempt to make its tools and technologies available to developers for free, stating that Epic wanted the court to micromanage Apple’s business operations in a way that would benefit Epic financially. While Epic declined to comment on the matter, Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment, adding to the ongoing dispute between the two companies.

Following a previous ruling in Epic’s favor, Apple was ordered to provide developers with more flexibility in directing app users to alternative payment methods for digital goods. Despite this, Epic accused Apple of blatant violations of the court’s injunction, citing the imposition of a 27% fee on developers for some purchases and restrictions on apps informing users about alternative payment options.

Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Elon Musk’s X, and Match Group also echoed Epic’s arguments, claiming that Apple was clearly violating the court’s order. A related case filed by Epic against Alphabet’s Google is expected to result in a separate injunction affecting the Google Play Store later this year.

The case, known as Epic Games Inc v Apple Inc, is ongoing in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, with a focus on the implications of Apple’s App Store policies.