Latest news with #AlexRoman
Ammon
06-05-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Apple files appeal to wrest back control of its App Store
Ammon News - After a stinging rebuke in the lower courts over its legal battle with Epic, Apple filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit on Monday. The appeal will challenge last week's ruling that prevents the company from charging developers fees on purchases made outside the App Store. In 2021, the Epic v. Apple lawsuit resulted in a court order enjoining Apple from anti-steering activities — that is, hindering developers from telling users to make purchases outside of the app. The case was revived last year when Epic Games alleged that Apple had violated that court order. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers not only agreed with Epic Games but also found that Apple's Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, had lied under oath and referred the matter to the district's federal prosecutor for potential criminal investigation. The judge additionally sanctioned Apple for 'misuse of attorney-client privilege designations to delay proceedings.' The Verge
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Apple files appeal after court order on App Store fees in Epic Games case: Report
Apple has filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit after a major setback in its legal fight with Epic Games, reports The Verge. The appeal challenges a ruling from last week that bars the iPhone maker from arguing developers fees on purchases made outside the App Store. Ruling in favour of Epic Games, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said that Apple's actions breached the earlier court order. She also criticized Apple's conduct during the case, saying that Alex Roman, Apple's Vice President of Finance, lied under oath. In addition, Judge Rogers sanctioned Apple for delaying the case by misusing attorney-client privilege claims. Apple's latest appeal aims to overturn these rulings and defend its current App Store practices. Apple vs Epic Games: The background by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Start Here - 2025 Top Trend Local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo The legal battle between Epic Games and Apple began in 2020 when Epic Games tried to bypass Apple's in-app payment system in its popular game Fortnite. Epic Games then introduced a direct payment option inside the app, which allowed users to pay Epic Games directly — avoiding Apple's 30% commission on App Store purchases. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store, leading Epic Games to sue Apple. Epic argued that Apple was running a monopoly by forcing developers to use its payment system and by restricting app distribution to only the App Store on iPhones. In 2021, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple must allow developers to direct users to external payment methods, effectively banning Apple's "anti-steering" rules. However, the court did not find Apple to be a monopoly under federal antitrust law, and Epic was ordered to pay damages for breaching its contract with Apple. Last week, judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple must immediately stop charging commissions on purchases made outside its App Store, dealing a major blow to the tech giant's control over its lucrative app ecosystem. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney then celebrated the decision, declaring on social media: "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple's 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe."
The Verge
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Apple files appeal to wrest back control of its App Store
After a stinging rebuke in the lower courts over its legal battle with Epic, Apple filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit on Monday. The appeal will challenge last week's ruling that prevents the company from charging developers fees on purchases made outside the App Store. In 2021, the Epic v. Apple lawsuit resulted in a court order enjoining Apple from anti-steering activities — that is, hindering developers from telling users to make purchases outside of the app. The case was revived last year when Epic Games alleged that Apple had violated that court order. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers not only agreed with Epic Games but also found that Apple's Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, had lied under oath and referred the matter to the district's federal prosecutor for potential criminal investigation. The judge additionally sanctioned Apple for 'misuse of attorney-client privilege designations to delay proceedings.'
Metro
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Fortnite coming back to iOS if Apple accepts ‘peace proposal' from Epic Games
Five years after Fortnite's removal from the Apple store, a US court ruling has given Epic Games the opportunity to have the game reinstated. Back in 2020, Epic Games kicked off a legal brouhaha with Apple after Fortnite was delisted from Apple's storefront, meaning iOS players could no longer download the game or receive updates. Despite the lawsuit ending in 2021, neither side was wholly victorious on the matter and Epic Games tried dragging things out with an appeal that was rejected by the US Supreme Court last year. However, following a recent ruling against Apple, Epic Games has seized on the opportunity to make peace with Apple and get Fortnite back on the Apple store. For context, in 2021, US district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple could no longer prevent developers from informing customers about alternative means of purchasing gaming content, like subscriptions and microtransactions, outside of the Apple store. This is what got Fortnite booted from the store in the first place, since Epic Games tried advertising its microtransactions without needing to sell them through the Apple store – meaning Apple didn't get their cut of the money. However, the same judge has stated that, upon reviewing internal documents, Apple has violated this injunction, going so far as to say Apple's vice president of finance Alex Roman 'outright lied under oath.' This means the company could face criminal contempt charges, but it's also an opportunity for Epic Games, who immediately smelt blood in the water and published a statement about how it's willing to let bygones be bygones… if Fortnite is allowed back on the Apple store worldwide. As it stands, Fortnite isn't coming back to iOS in the UK yet. This being a US ruling means it only applies to the US but, per a write up by The Game Business, Epic Games' 'peace proposal' requires Apple to make the ruling apply worldwide. Epic Games says it is ready to put Fortnite back on the Apple store in the US as early as next week, which would likely be followed by a worldwide release if Apple accepts the deal. In exchange, Epic Games will abandon all its litigation against Apple, as well as its plans to force its own storefront on Apple devices. For anyone thinking 'Didn't Epic Games already do that?', you're right, but that was only across the European Union. A change in EU law in 2024 allowed an Epic Games Store to be formed on iPhones and iPads, but the company has yet to make it available in the UK or anywhere else. At the time of writing, Epic Games' website says, 'Thanks to fair legislation being passed, we will be able to bring the Epic Games Store to the UK and Japan soon, and will follow suit in any other country that passes legislation allowing third party marketplaces on iPhone/iPad devices.' However, it sounds like Epic Games may not bother anymore, should Apple accept its proposal. Especially since not only would Fortnite be allowed back on the Apple store, but Epic would be free to bypass the store when selling microtransactions. More Trending Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, after years of harsh criticism towards Apple, has gone to great lengths to present himself as the bigger man in the two companies' ongoing feud, describing Epic as one of Apple's 'best partners for more than a decade.' 'I've been fighting Apple for a long time. But I'm an iPhone customer. This is an awesome device. I love having it. I don't love the policies that Apple has made with respect to stores, but there's a lot of respect of Epic towards Apple's quality of product and focus,' says Sweeney. 'I hold out hope that there's a way for Apple to get back on the right side of history here. I think this is a great time for Apple to consider doing that.' Apple could very well opt to appeal the ruling, though, so it's unlikely to accept Epic Games' olive branch so readily. Or at least not right away. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Apple flew 1,500,000 iPhones to the USA to beat Donald Trump's tariffs MORE: Seth Rogen coming to Call Of Duty in weed-themed DLC as Star Wars hits Fortnite MORE: New Lego Fortnite sets feature Klombo and Mecha Team Leader
The Journal
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Apple in legal battle with maker of popular game Fortnite
A US FEDERAL JUDGE has said Apple wilfully violated an injunction in a competition case brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had previously ordered Apple to stop prohibiting app developers from linking customers to their own purchasing mechanisms, and not require them to go through Apple's payment systems. But in a judgment yesterday, she said she was referring the matter to a district attorney in California to investigate whether criminal contempt proceedings are appropriate, accusing the tech giant of effectively ignoring the initial ruling. The judge found Apple violated a 2021 injunction which, she wrote, sought to 'restrain and prohibit the iPhone maker's anticompetitive conduct' and pricing. 'Apple's continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated,' she wrote in Wednesday's ruling, which held Apple in contempt. Advertisement The judge ordered that Apple 'no longer impede developers' ability to communicate with users nor will they levy or impose a new commission on off-app purchases'. She also accused Apple's vice-president of finance Alex Roman of 'outright' lying under oath. The case links back to a lawsuit filed by Epic Games in 2020, which accused Apple of building an illegal monopoly via its App Store by forcing app developers to use Apple's own payment system, and taking up to 30% commission on transactions made through that system, making billions of dollars in the process. The monopoly claims were rejected, but Apple was ordered to lower the barriers around payments, and allow developers to show consumers links to alternative ways of making purchases. In a post on social media, Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney welcomed the ruling and offered Apple a 'peace' deal on the subject. 'Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic,' he said. 'Apple's 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there,' Mr Sweeney added.
