Australia’s Federal Court has decided that Epic Games’ antitrust case against Apple can move forward, reports AppleInsider. This is a reversal of a previous ruling that put the action on ice as the two parties await a ruling in the U.S.
In April the lawsuit in Australia was stayed for a period of three months by Justice Nye Perram. At the time it was noted that if Epic didn’t commence a suit in the U.S. alleging contraventions to Australian Consumer Law within that time then the case will be permanently stayed. Perram also ordered that if Epic pursues this case in the US then the proceedings will continue to be stayed but can be brought back to Australian courts should the court in California decline to determine these allegations.
This is all part of an ongoing global legal battle between Apple and Epic. On Aug. 13,2020, Epic Games announced that it had introduced a new direct payment option in the Fortnite app for iPhone and iPad, allowing players to purchase 1000 V-Bucks for US$7.99 rather than $9.99 through Apple’s in-app purchase mechanism. Shortly thereafter, Apple removed the gamer from the App Store for violating store polices and followed up by shutting down the company’s developer account.
Epic immediately filed a lawsuit against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
In September 2020 Apple filed a countersuit to stop the game maker from using its own payment system for Fortnite. Apple also accused Epic of theft and sought extra monetary damages beyond breach of contract.
