Tech titan Apple and Epic Games face off in a California courtroom Monday in a clash over control of the increasingly important mobile app marketplace.
Epic, maker of the popular "battle royal" game Fortnite, is aiming to break the grip of the iPhone maker on its App Store, in the latest assault on Apple's tightly controlled empire.
The case opening in federal court comes with Apple feeling pressure from a wide range of app makers over its control of the App Store, which critics say represents monopolistic behaviour.
The two firms will be debating whether Apple has the right to set ground rules, control payment systems and kick out apps from its marketplace that fail to comply. Also at stake is Apple's slice of revenue from iPhone apps of as much as 30 percent.
- Business model at risk -
A key element of Apple's business model is at stake in the case, said Tejas Narechania, a University of California law professor.
"It's going to tell us a lot about how we structure industries and the technology industry going forward," he said.
"Which is how tightly can companies like Apple and Amazon and Google, how tightly can they vertically integrate their products?"
Analyst Dan Ives at Wedbush Securities called the case a "Game of Thrones court battle" with Epic looking to bypass the app platforms of both Apple and Google "while trying to gain support from other developers/app makers in a 'groundswell movement'" against Apple.
But Ives said Apple has a strong defense case.
"Apple has successfully defended its App Store moat again and again with this time being no different in our opinion," Ives said in a research note.
"This is a high stakes game of poker being played as Apple needs to make sure the Epic challenge, which is very timely in light of antitrust swirls and growing opposition to Big Tech within the Beltway, does not create a ripple effect which developers and regulators globally are watching carefully."
Apple contends that its fee structure is the industry norm, and is fair compensation for giving developers a global store-front and keeping it secure.
Epic, which is seeking to return to the App Store without being forced to use Apple's payment scheme, is not alone in its criticism.
The European Union on Friday formally accused Apple of unfairly squeezing out music streaming rivals based on a complaint brought by Sweden-based Spotify and others which claim the California group sets rules that favour its own Apple Music.
A recently formed Coalition for App Fairness, which includes both Spotify and Epic, have called for Apple to open up its marketplace, claiming its commission is a "tax" on rivals
- Off the platform -
Apple booted Fortnite from its online mobile marketplace last year after Epic released an update that dodged revenue sharing with the iPhone maker.
Apple does not allow users of its popular devices to download apps from anywhere but its App Store, and developers have to use Apple's payment system which takes its cut of up to 30 percent -- a percentage which goes down after the first year and is waived for those with limited revenues.
Due to the legal row, Fortnite fans using iPhones or other Apple devices no longer have access to the latest game updates.
After months of duelling legal filings, a trial before District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is to begin with Epic laying out its case in opening remarks.
Apple is to counter with its position before witness testimony begins. The companies agreed to leave the verdict up to the judge instead of a jury.
The trial is being held in a courtroom across the bay from San Francisco, and witnesses are to include the chief executives of Apple and Epic.
Rogers has tightly restricted access to the courtroom due to Covid-19 risks, allowing the public to listen to proceedings via a phone line or Zoom.
AFP