Apple Wins $6 Million From Epic, The Court Ruling

In May, the world watched as Epic dragged Apple to the U.S. District Court, California, challenging the most profitable company in the world in the name of app fairness (and securing more Fortnite profits for itself). Judge Yvonne Gonzalez ruled in Apple’s favor. 

“The Court finds in favor of Apple on all counts except with respect to violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law (Count Ten) and only partially with respect to its claim for Declaratory Relief,” the judge gave final verdict.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers announced on Friday in a ruling that Epic Games has to pay damages to Apple on violation of its app store code. The revenue that Epic has collected from Fortnite sales on the IOS app store via a third-party payment system is against Apple’s consent.

$6 Million Ruling

Epic has paid Apple $6,000,000 as ordered by the court. pic.twitter.com/trulCfjE9S

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) September 13, 2021

• Epic last year, in an attempt to sidestep App Store, commissions integrated and activated a direct payment alternative in Fortnite. Apple consequently removed the game Fortnite from its app store immediately afterward. However, some users downloaded and installed the app purchasing it through Epic’s system. The time for which the app was available was enough for Epic Games to rake in a revenue of $12,167,719. 
• Epic Games‌ was instructed by judge Gonzalez Rogers to pay 30% of the $12 million total that was collected between August 2020 and October 2020; plus 30% of revenue collected from November 1, 2020, through the date of the judgment. This is in addition to interest, which is where the $6 million fees come from.
• Apple signified the verdict as a “resounding victory” as it prevailed on nine out of ten counts.

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