Epic Games Wins Partial Court Victory Against Google and Apple in Australia
Epic Games, creator of Fortnite, has scored a partial legal win in Australia against Google and Apple. Federal Court Justice Jonathan Beach found that both companies breached Australian competition laws by misusing market power and employing restrictive trade practices. He concluded that their dominance in app distribution substantially lessened competition.
However, the court dismissed parts of Epic’s case, including claims that Google and Apple engaged in unconscionable conduct under Australian law. The dispute began in August 2020 when Fortnite was removed from both the App Store and Google Play for adding a direct payment option. Epic’s founder and CEO, Tim Sweeney, is pursuing similar challenges in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Court Findings and Company Responses
Justice Beach ruled that Google and Apple pressured developers, including Epic, through contracts and technology to sell products exclusively via their app stores. Epic celebrated the decision online as “Another HUGE WIN for Epic Games!” Apple responded by stating it “faces fierce competition in every market where we operate” and welcomed the dismissal of some claims, though it disagreed with other parts of the ruling.
Google said it would review the judgment and criticized the court’s characterisation of its billing practices and past partnerships. Both companies may appeal before the Federal Court’s full bench. The judge has not yet released his full written judgments 952 pages for the Apple case and 914 pages for the Google case but provided an oral summary during a 90-minute hearing.
Next Steps in the Case
Lawyers will return to court at a later date to determine what damages Epic may receive. While this ruling strengthens Epic’s global fight against the two tech giants, the outcome of any appeals could influence the final result. The case also highlights ongoing global debates about app store control, developer rights, and competitive fairness in mobile marketplaces.
