Apple rejecting new challenges from Epic Games
Games maker Epic continues to challenge Apple’s store and its rule saying developers can only use the store’s built in payment system. The game “Fortnite” maker referred to a new South Korean legislation and asked Apple to add Epic’s own payment system as an option for customers. Apple rejected the request, Epic said in a tweet.
South Korean parliament recently approved a law that will limit big tech companies’ power to force developers to only use the stores’ built in payment systems.
Epic tweeted that it had asked Apple to restore its “Fortnite” developer account: “Epic intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side in compliance with the new Korean law.”
Apple refused and said Epic has to comply with the store’s guidelines.
The South Korean legislation is approved by the parliament and expected to be formally implemented in September.
Epic has earlier taken Apple to court saying the company is abusing its market power by forcing developers to only use the app store’s built-in payment system. When Epic launched “Fortnight”, the company challenged Apple by adding its own payment system as an alternative for customers which made Apple block “Fortnight” from the store. Both parties are waiting for the court ruling.
Apple has recently made some compromises allowing developers to have some more direct contact with customers not forcing the communication to be only via the app. The company has also announced that it will take 15% commission from smaller developers instead of the controversial 30%.
Both developers and politicians have criticized Apple and Google stores saying that the companies are abusing their market power by forcing payments to go via the stores so that they can take a commission on all sales.
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