Epic Games urges EU action against Apple’s app store monopoly

Epic Games calls on the EU to impose its new Digital Markets Act (DMA) to counter Apple’s actions that have reduced competition in app store industry

Epic Games on Wednesday urged the EU to impose its new Digital Markets Act (DMA) as soon as possible in reaction to recent moves by Apple that have reduced competition in the app store industry. The appeal was made in response to Apple’s decision to block Epic’s efforts to create a rival app store just for the iPhone.

CEO Tim Sweeney did not hold back in his criticism of Apple, accusing the company of using anti-competitive measures and pointing to the Digital Markets Act as a way to counteract such monopolistic actions. The DMA requires big digital firms to give up their platforms to promote competition, and it is scheduled to go into effect on Thursday.

Epic’s attempts to launch its own app store on the iPhone were rejected, and Sweeney compared Apple’s behavior to that of medieval rulers who would show the skulls of their defeated enemies as a warning to others. To be more precise, on March 2 Apple terminated Epic’s developer account, ending its attempts to open standalone storefronts on Apple products by doing so.

Apple responded by citing Epic’s prior violations of its contractual duties and app store policies to support its actions. A representative for Apple emphasized that the business has the right to stop these kinds of operations, particularly given Epic’s previous actions.

Nevertheless, Epic seems unfazed, seeing Apple’s actions as an obvious violation of the DMA. Sweeney urged authorities to hold the tech giant responsible under the recently passed legislation and underlined the necessity for quick action against Apple’s monopolistic tactics.

This was also expressed by Corie Wright, Vice President of Public Policy at Epic Games, who expressed trust that the European Commission, which is in charge of implementing the DMA, will handle the situation appropriately.

Source: AFP