Epic Games on Wednesday called on the European Union to quickly implement a major new law governing big tech after Apple halted efforts by the Fortnite maker to develop a competing app store for its devices.
“Apple's decision to block our competition is a blatant attempt to bring down a powerful competitor enabled by the DMA,” Epic CEO Tim Sweeney told reporters. I see this as an initiative.”
Mr. Sweeney was referring to the Digital Markets Act. It's a landmark European law that comes into effect on Thursday and forces the world's biggest technology companies to open up their platforms to competition.
Several years ago, Epic, through courts and regulators, forced Apple and Google to open up its iPhone and Android devices to competing app stores and stop charging large fees for purchases made on its devices. I set out on a mission to request that.
The EU heard the call and included the request in the DMA, but Epic said its initial efforts to introduce its store on the iPhone were rejected as part of punishment for public criticism of Apple.
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Sweeney likened this to “feudal lords installing the skulls of former enemies in their castles” to “dissuade others from speaking out.”
Specifically, Apple on March 2 closed the developer account for Epic, which allows users to build the software needed to launch standalone stores on Apple devices.
In a letter published by Epic, Apple's lawyers cited Sweeney's frequent criticism of Apple and Epic's past disregard for Apple's app store rules.
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“The court finds that because Epic has materially breached its contractual obligations to Apple, Apple has the right to terminate[Epic's activities]at any time and in its sole discretion,” an Apple spokesperson said in an email to AFP. ”.
“Given Epic's past and current actions, Apple has chosen to exercise its rights,” the spokesperson added.
For Epic, the rejection proved that it was “not going to allow Apple to have real competition” on Apple devices.
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Given the clear violation of the DMA, “swift action is required,” Sweeney said.
Apple “needs to be censured for their actions in the same way that others are censured when they violate the law in this way,” he said.
Epic said it has notified the European Commission, which is responsible for enforcing this landmark law.
Corie Wright, vice president of public policy at Epic Games, said:
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