Apple and Epic Games have still not ended their global conflict over payment methods in the App Store, alternative app marketplaces and other questions of platform freedom. There is now new information from Australia, where both quarrelsome parties have also been in a clinch since 2020 (!).
Apple: Epic wants a free ride
The federal court there ruled last August that the case was at least partly like Epic Games – and ruled that alternative app stores via sideloading must also be approved as alternative payment methods outside of Apple’s. Because: Anything else violates the country’s “Competition and Consumer Act”. It remains unclear how the decision will be implemented. Epic Games would like to see it open soon, Apple is naturally against it.
In a public statement from the iPhone manufacturer, which Macrumors, it is now said that Epic Games is trying to become a “free rider”. Apple’s intellectual property rights would be damaged. “Epic is now demanding a ‘free ride’ on Apple’s platform and wants us to remove all security features we’ve ever built in to protect users and developers.” But this is precisely what goes “far beyond what the court has decided”. Apple’s lawyers are currently in the process of seeking a litigation outcome “that respects our intellectual property and ensures the protected, secure experience consumers and developers expect from our platform.”
Court has partial sympathy with Apple’s position
Epic Games would prefer that no more payments to Apple have to be made in Australia. Instead, there will be sideloading, as we now know it from Europe. Here, however, Apple is trying to collect platform fees. Epic Games wants to prevent this in other markets. The Australian court seems to share Apple’s view here and tends to believe that Apple has a right to be paid for its technology. There also seems to be sympathy for the protection of Apple’s platform, which therefore prevents sideloading. However, it all doesn’t add up very well.
On Friday, there was therefore a first “Case Management Hearing”, in which more details were to be communicated, but nothing is known about this yet. But further decisions are not to be expected before December anyway. Only then will it be partially decided what Apple has to do. However, a final decision is not expected before spring 2026. It is possible that the Australian legislature will also intervene beforehand.
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