Video game developer Epic Games' trial against Google begins

Google, Apple both removed Fortnite from their app stores in 2020 as game avoided giving share of sales

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) – American video game developer Epic Games' anti-trust trial against Google began in a San Francisco court on Monday.

Epic Games, the maker of popular video game Fortnite, argues that Google is acting as a monopoly and charging 30% commission on in-app purchases on its app store Google Play.

Google, on the other hand, rejects the claim that Google Play is a monopoly as it competes with Apple, and argues that there are other methods to download apps on Android phones.

Apple and Google both removed Fortnite from their app stores in 2020 as the game was using its own payments system and avoided giving the two companies a share of sales.

Both companies take 30% of purchases on their app stores.

Epic Games filed lawsuits against both Apple and Google in 2020, while Google countersued Epic Games in October 2021.

The current trial before the US District Judge James Donato is expected to last until Christmas before a 10-person jury.

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