Sep 22, 2021 - Technology
"Fortnite" blacklisted from Apple store
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Epic Games CEO and founder Tim Sweeney said Wednesday that Apple has "blacklisted ['Fortnite'] from the Apple ecosystem until the exhaustion of all court appeals," a process that could take up to five years.
Why it matters: It appears "Fortnite" won't be returning to the Apple store any time soon.
- "Apple lied," Sweeney said on Twitter. "Apple spent a year telling the world, the court, and the press they’d 'welcome Epic’s return to the App Store if they agree to play by the same rules as everyone else'. Epic agreed, and now Apple has reneged in another abuse of its monopoly power over a billion users."
- In the email sent to Epic, Apple called the company's conduct "duplicitous," adding that Apple "has exercised its discretion not to reinstate Epic’s developer program at this time."
- “Furthermore, Apple will not consider any further requests for reinstatement until the district court’s judgment becomes final and nonappealable.”
Flashback: A federal judge ruled this month that Epic "failed in its burden to demonstrate Apple is an illegal monopolist" and is not entitled to other remedies it sought.
- Epic said it planned to appeal the decision, while Apple representatives told Axios they would study the ruling before deciding on next steps.
Fans have some thoughts about the news today:
