Apple files counterclaims, responses in legal battle with Epic Games

Apple has filed counterclaims and responses in its legal battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games and is now seeking damages for Epic Games’ breach of contract, according to CNBC.

It’s unclear how much Apple is asking for in damages. However, the tech giant says in today’s filing that Epic Games has earned over US$600 million from its app store.

“Although Epic portrays itself as a modern corporate Robin Hood, in reality it is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that simply wants to pay nothing for the tremendous value it derives from the App Store,” Apple says in the filing.

On Aug. 13,  Epic Games 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 and canceled its developer account for violating App Store policies.  Epic immediately filed a lawsuit against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.