Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-08-13 11:23Core Viewpoint - The Australian Federal Court ruled that Apple and Google abused their market dominance in the app store sector, constituting anti-competitive behavior, stemming from a five-year global antitrust battle initiated by Epic Games over the game Fortnite [2] Group 1: Court Ruling and Implications - The court found that Apple and Google limited app distribution channels, enforced the use of their own payment systems, and charged commissions as high as 30%, which reduced market competition and increased costs for developers and consumers [2] - The ruling criticized Apple's prohibition on installing native apps outside the App Store as significantly reducing competition, while also noting Google's restrictive policies on the Android platform weakened market vitality [2] Group 2: Responses from Companies - Epic Games celebrated the ruling as a victory for Australian developers and consumers, indicating that Fortnite would soon return to Apple devices, although plans for Android were still uncertain [3] - Apple emphasized facing intense competition from Google, Samsung, and other stores, claiming that its commission rates have been decreasing and that many developers do not pay commissions at all [3][4] - Google argued that its Android system is more open than Apple's and disagreed with the court's description of its billing policies, asserting that its historical partnerships were formed in a competitive mobile environment [4] Group 3: Ongoing Legal Actions and Future Outlook - The court's decision allows two class-action lawsuits to proceed, potentially involving around 15 million consumers and 150,000 developers who purchased content from the app stores between November 2017 and June 2022 [4] - The ruling may prompt reforms in Australia's digital platform regulations, leading to lower prices, increased competition, and enhanced innovation, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) continuing to advocate for regulatory changes [5] - Epic Games' victory in Australia could serve as a pivotal moment for global developers seeking autonomy in app distribution and payment systems [5]