The Apple/Epic dispute rumbles on, and this week’s legal developments suggest that Apple is starting to gain the upper hand.
In August, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after developer Epic Games released a new software update that allowed users to bypass Apple’s in-app payment system, contrary to the store’s rules. Epic has since sued Apple, accusing the company of having a monopoly, and requested that a court temporarily allow Fortnite to return to the App Store.
On Monday, both sides were allowed to present their arguments before Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers of the Northern California District. According to CNN, Gonzales Rogers was sceptical about several of Epic’s claims and said several times that she was not convinced by the company’s arguments or its strategy.
Apple argued that its policies are designed to protect users. Epic then said that it is a credible business that has existed for several years and does not pose a security threat, but Judge Gonzales Rogers said this was not the point, accusing Epic of dishonesty for deliberately violating the App Store rules.
“You did something, you lied about it by omission, by not being forthcoming. That’s the security issue. That’s the security issue!” Gonzalez Rogers told Epic, according to CNN. “There are a lot of people in the public who consider you guys heroes for what you guys did, but it’s still not honest.”
This was just a preliminary hearing, and as things stand the trial itself will take place in July 2021. According to Judge Gonzales Rogers, she would have preferred it to take place before a jury.
Neither Epic Games nor Apple have commented on these developments.
This article originally appeared on Macworld Sweden. Translation by David Price.
