Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, a vocal Apple critic who previously sued the tech giant for anticompetitive practices, shared his thoughts on the European Commission’s recent €1.84 billion fine against Apple. Sweeney highlighted Apple’s response to the fine, criticizing their historical relationship with app makers and the App Store commission model.
Originally, Apple’s App Store served as a platform to enhance iPhone sales by providing access to popular apps like Facebook. However, as Apple expanded its services business, it pushed app developers to monetize their apps through in-app purchases, leading to a stronger focus on retaining commission revenues.
Despite implementing exceptions for “reader” apps in 2022, Apple still maintains control over the process, dictating rules for exceptions and in-app purchase guidelines.
Sweeney, pleased with the EU ruling, has been engaged in a legal battle with Apple over similar issues through Epic Games. Epic Games sought to distribute Fortnite to iOS users without going through the App Store and paying commissions on in-app purchases. While Epic Games faced legal challenges, Apple agreed to allow links to external payment options with a commission fee.
Sweeney believes that the EU’s decision sheds light on Apple’s practices in the US case, emphasizing Apple’s “malicious compliance” and his determination to challenge this behavior.
Furthermore, a Business Insider article highlighted the significant impact of the EU fine on Apple’s stock price, causing a market cap decrease of $80 billion. Spotify also reacted to the fine, acknowledging it as a powerful message but expressing concerns about Apple’s regulatory compliance.
