Apple is facing heavy criticism from the European Union’s antitrust police after it blocked Fortnite maker Epic Games from launching its own app store for iPhone customers. It’s a brazen move as deadlines for compliance with Europe’s wide-ranging technology competition laws approach.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company announced Wednesday that it is terminating the developer accounts of Epic Games and Sweden’s Epic Games, and that Epic Games and its CEO Tim Sweeney (previously cited by Apple for compliance issues proposed to the App Store) (who called the proposed changes “hot garbage”). affiliate.
Had Apple approved the account just a few weeks ago, Epic would have been able to offer Fortnite and its Epic Games Store directly to iPhone users.
Apple’s surprise move comes a day before Thursday’s deadline to comply with the Digital Markets Act, a new law that imposes new restrictions on Apple and five other “gatekeeper” companies and imposes penalties for violations. Epic Games calls Apple’s sudden move a “serious violation” of the DMA.
EU officials appear to agree.
EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager hinted at a possible crackdown on Apple in an X post on Thursday, saying gamers will be able to play @FortniteGame when it returns to iOS, along with a winking face emoji. (just a few hours) after Apple announced it was terminating Epic’s account in Europe.
Meanwhile, the European Commission “has requested further clarification from Apple on this matter under the DMA,” a spokesperson confirmed in a statement to the Post.
Epic said Apple cited Sweeney’s public criticism of the iPhone maker’s business practices as one of the reasons it terminated its developer account.
The North Carolina-based company released a letter it received from Apple’s App Store head Phil Schiller.
“Your various criticisms of our DMA compliance plan, coupled with Epic’s past practice of intentionally violating contractual provisions to which it does not agree, demonstrate that Epic Sweden has no intention of playing by the rules,” Schiller wrote in the letter. It strongly suggests that.”
European Commission officials will also investigate whether Apple’s actions comply with two other antitrust laws: the Digital Services Act and the Platforms to Business Regulation.
A European Commission spokesperson said: “The DSA requires clear and transparent contractual terms, prohibition of arbitrary application of these terms and conditions, provision for an expression of reasons when decisions are taken, and the possibility of complaints and redress. We have established requirements such as:
“Where content is moderated and accounts are temporarily or permanently suspended, this must be proportionate and with due regard to fundamental rights,” the spokesperson added.
The Post has reached out to Apple for further comment.
Apple argued that past court decisions confirm that it has “sole discretion” to terminate contracts with developers if they are found to have violated the terms of the agreement.
“Given Epic’s past and current actions, Apple has chosen to exercise its rights,” Apple said in a statement.
Weeks before the DMA went into effect, Apple proposed a compliance plan that would allow third-party developers to opt out of the App Store payment system and offer their own versions.
At the same time, Apple said it would ensure that its apps meet cybersecurity and privacy standards and maintain the right to charge developers so-called “core technology fees.”
The latest scrutiny by EU officials comes days after the European Commission imposed a hefty $2 billion fine on Apple.
Law enforcement authorities say Apple illegally restricted music app developers from advertising cheaper ways to subscribe to streaming services outside of the App Store, in an investigation that began in response to a complaint from streaming giant Spotify. Confirmed.
