{"id":30039,"date":"2020-09-08T14:36:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T18:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=30039"},"modified":"2021-06-18T07:12:08","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T11:12:08","slug":"epic-banned-from-apple-development-for-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/08\/epic-banned-from-apple-development-for-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Epic Banned From Apple Development for a Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tim Cook<\/a>, in July:<\/p>\n

We want to get every app we can on the Store, not keep them off.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Apple<\/a>, August 13:<\/p>\n

We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

But I missed<\/a>, when writing yesterday’s post<\/a>, that Apple’s position has changed. Epic’s motion<\/a> includes this e-mail from Apple:<\/p>\n

This letter serves as notice of termination of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement (the “ADP Agreement”) and the Apple Developer Agreement (the “Developer Agreement”) between Epic Games, Inc. (“you”) and Apple effective immediately[…]<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Finally, please note that we will deny your reapplication to the Apple Developer Program for at least a year considering the nature of your acts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Since it’s no longer possible for Epic to resubmit and comply with the rules for now, working out the financial settlement later, I now think that Epic is the more harmed party in the current situation. Perhaps that increases its odds in the September 28 preliminary injunction hearing. Otherwise, it would be banned from development and sales at least until the trial, which is nearly a year away.<\/p>\n\n

The continued loss of Fortnite as a gathering place for users on all platforms will lead Epic’s customers to defect. Epic may never see these users again. It will also be denied the opportunity to access even a single new user among the one-billion-plus iOS users for at least the next year. The removal of Fortnite from iOS also substantially impedes a major Epic initiative—evolving Fortnite into a full-fledged “metaverse”, a multi-purpose, persistent, interactive virtual space. Harm like this to Epic’s flagship app cannot be calculated in damages.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Stephen Warwick<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

New estimates from Buy Shares have revealed that Epic Games’ spat with Apple could cost it in the region of $26 million a month in lost revenue whilst Fortnite is banned from iOS.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n