CARY – Epic Games may have lost a round in its court fight against Apple on Monday but the publisher of the globally popular Fortnite game insists the fight is far from over.
The judge allowed Epic to pursue its case against Google in the UK but will not allow Epic to serve Apple while the US case is ongoing.
The judge indicated in the judgement that if, “the US courts would not grant injunctive relief extending to the UK, that would in my judgment be a powerful factor in favour of holding that this country is clearly or distinctly the appropriate forum.”
Google and Apple have banned its Fortnite app and in-game sales from their app stores in a dispute over fees.
In a statement, Cary-based Epic declared:
“We are pleased that the Court has granted Epic permission to pursue our case against Google in the U.K. Epic will reconsider pursuing its case against Apple in the U.K. after the resolution of the U.S. case. We note the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s assessment that Apple and Google’s anticompetitive app store policies are ‘serious issues to be tried’ under UK Competition law, and that it is ‘well arguable’ that their conduct has ‘an immediate and substantial effect in the UK’. We are unwavering in our commitment to stopping Apple and Google’s anti-competitive practices and will continue to fight for fairer app distribution globally.”
Epic Games expands antitrust fight with Apple to Europe in new complaint
Epic and the tech giants are also fighting in the US with a trial coming later this spring.
Epic has sued Apple in Australia as well and has filed an antitrust complaint in the European Union.
For more about the UK decision, check this link.
Note: This story has been revised and updated.
