Epic store launch sparks scramble for evidence in Apple, Google trial
Epic Games’ announcement last week it would bring its online store to Android and iOS has created new evidence demands in a courtroom nearly 12,000 miles away.
When Epic Games Store boss Steve Allison unveiled plans last week for the Fortnite maker’s return to mobile devices by the end of 2024, it’s unlikely that he had in mind the reaction of lawyers nearly 12,000 miles away.
But the game developer’s plans have led to Apple and Google’s legal teams demanding access to new evidence linked to the store launch as they defend allegations of anticompetitive conduct brought by Epic in Australia.
Epic is suing Apple and Google, alleging the companies have engaged in restrictive trading practices and misused their market power via their respective app stores.
Five days after Allison’s San Francisco announcement that the company had “made enough progress” against Apple and Google to bring Fortnite back to mobile, Australian barristers were arguing before Federal Court of Australia Judge Jonathan Beach about how much of the detail behind that decision they should get to see.
