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Epic Games accuses Apple of bypassing Brazil antitrust deal
Epic Games has filed a formal complaint with Brazil’s antitrust regulator, CADE, accusing Apple of using technical and structural barriers to circumvent a recent settlement regarding App Store competition.
The dispute stems from a settlement reached two months ago, which allowed developers in Brazil to distribute iOS apps through alternative marketplaces and use non-Apple payment systems. Epic Games alleges that Apple is implementing restrictive interpretations of this agreement to minimize its impact.
Key grievances cited by Epic include Apple’s exclusion of iPadOS from the agreement, despite claims that the settlement should cover all such devices. Epic also criticized Apple’s 5% Core Technology Commission on digital goods sold via third-party stores and the nine-step installation process required for external apps, noting that the European implementation uses a more efficient six-step process. Additionally, Epic challenged Apple’s use of warning messages, termed ‘scare sheets,’ and reporting requirements that Epic claims grant Apple excessive insight into competitors' business models.
Entities
Apple · Brazil · Cade · Epic Games · MercadoLibre
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Epic Games claims Apple’s reporting requirements for alternative distributors provide excessive visibility into competitors' business models. www.iphonote.com · 9to5mac.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Epic Games claims Apple is excluding iPadOS from the antitrust agreement that covers iOS devices. www.iphonote.com · oglobo.globo.com · 9to5mac.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Epic Games argues that Apple’s nine-step installation process for external apps in Brazil is more restrictive than the six-step process used in Europe. www.iphonote.com · 9to5mac.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Epic Games filed a complaint with Brazil’s antitrust authority, CADE, accusing Apple of sidestepping an antitrust settlement. www.iphonote.com · oglobo.globo.com · 9to5mac.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Epic Games objects to Apple’s 5% Core Technology Commission on digital goods sold through alternative app stores. www.iphonote.com · 9to5mac.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Epic Games characterizes Apple’s installation warnings as ‘scare sheets’ designed to discourage third-party app use. www.iphonote.com · 9to5mac.com