Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney shared on Twitter that the company has paid Apple $6 million in damages as ordered by the court. The amount is equated to the sum the developer earned via its controversial and unapproved update on Fortnite’s iOS app.
Epic has paid Apple $6,000,000 as ordered by the court. pic.twitter.com/trulCfjE9S
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) September 13, 2021
In August 2020, Epic released the mega discount update on the gaming app, which offered a direct payment method that cut Apple off from its 30% App Store commission and sold in-app items for reduced prices. And on Friday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Roger ruled that Epic Games had breached its contract by violating App Store’s rules and fined it.
Epic Games shall pay damages in an amount equal to (i) 30% of the $12,167,719 in revenue EpicGames collected from users in the Fortnite app on iOS through Epic Direct Payment between August and October 2020, plus (ii) 30% of any such revenue Epic Games collected from November 1, 2020 through the date of judgment, and interest according to law.
Is Epic Games complying to get its iOS developer account reinstated by Apple?
From the beginning of the conflict between Epic Games and Apple, the developer has maintained that it will not be returning to iOS until it is allowed to offer its own Fortnite app store on the platform. Even when Apple said it was willing to welcome Fortnite back to the App Store if it complies with the digital store’s policies, Epic refused and filed multiple lawsuits against Apple in U.S, UK, EU, and Australia.
But the developer is changing its tone a bit. Although Epic has filed an appeal against Judge Roger’s ruling which did not find Apple a monopoly, the company has paid the ordered penalty. Previously, Epic requested Apple to reinstates its iOS developer account so it can relaunch Fortnite in South Korea, in anticipation of new legislation which will bar Apple and Google from charging in-app purchases commission. And Mr. Sweeney’s dissatisfaction with the ruling was carefully worded on Twitter, he did not use Apple as being a monopoly, stifling competition and other accusations.
Apple banned Epic’s Fortnite developer account. We’ve asked for it back.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) September 13, 2021
During the trial, it was found that Fortnite on iOS was mutually beneficial for Epic and Apple. Apple made over $100 million from Fortnite over two and a half years span and Epic Games earned $9 billion in revenue from Fortnite in the first two years of launch.
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