The ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple has taken a new turn as Epic has requested a judge to force Apple to allow Fortnite back on the US App Store. The Verge reported that Epic is accusing Apple of violating a court order that directed Apple not to reject apps for including links to external payment methods. The tech giants have been engaged in a legal dispute since August 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store due to Epic introducing a direct payment method, which violated Apple's in-app purchase rules.



The Background


Following the removal of Fortnite from the App Store last year, Epic filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of anticompetitive behavior. Epic argued that Apple's strict rules regarding in-app purchases and commissions of up to 30% were unfair to developers and hindered healthy competition in the market.


Apple countered by stating that Epic knowingly breached its developer agreement by adding the direct payment method to Fortnite, which circumvented Apple's payment system and guidelines. As a result, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store, leading to a series of legal actions between the two companies.



The Court Order Violation


In an attempt to resolve the dispute, a court ruling was issued in October 2020, which prohibited Apple from retaliating against Epic by removing its developer account and blocking Unreal Engine, a popular game engine also owned by Epic. The court also directed Apple not to reject apps solely based on their inclusion of external payment links.


Epic now alleges that Apple has violated this court order by continuing to keep Fortnite off the App Store despite Epic’s compliance with the ruling. Epic claims that it has removed the direct payment method from Fortnite and has followed the guidelines outlined in the court order.



Epic's Request to the Judge


In response to Apple's actions, Epic has sought relief from the court by asking for an enforcement order that would require Apple to reinstate Fortnite on the App Store. Epic argues that if the game is now compliant with Apple's guidelines and no longer includes the direct payment option, Apple should be mandated to approve its return to the store.


This latest move by Epic seeks to hold Apple accountable for what it perceives as a violation of the court order and aims to compel Apple to comply with the legal directives regarding the inclusion of Fortnite on the App Store.



Apple's Position


Apple has maintained its stance that Epic's actions were intentional and meant to provoke a response that would benefit Epic's own business interests. The tech giant asserts that Epic knowingly breached the App Store guidelines and terms of service, leading to the removal of Fortnite from the platform.


Apple contends that it acted within its rights as a platform owner to enforce its policies regarding in-app purchases and payment methods and that Epic's actions were a direct challenge to these established rules.



The Implications of the Request


If the judge grants Epic's request and orders Apple to allow Fortnite back on the US App Store, it could set a significant precedent in the ongoing legal battle between the two companies. Such a decision would not only impact the availability of Fortnite on Apple devices but could also influence the app store policies of other tech companies.


The ruling would also have broader implications for the relationship between app developers and platform owners, paving the way for potential changes in how app stores regulate in-app purchases, payments, and developer fees.



Conclusion


The clash between Epic Games and Apple continues to unfold, with Epic now seeking judicial intervention to compel Apple to reinstate Fortnite on the US App Store. The request comes after Epic accused Apple of violating a court order that prevented Apple from rejecting apps over external payment links.


As the legal battle between the two tech giants escalates, the outcome of this latest development could have far-reaching consequences for the app store ecosystem and the broader tech industry as a whole.

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