Apple and Epic Games continue their legal battle in Australia. Apple said this week that Epic was trying to gain “preferential access” to the platform and circumvent protections for users and developers. The company will reportedly seek a solution that “respects intellectual property” and “secures the platform.”
The essence of the dispute lies in 2020, when Epic Games filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of violating antitrust laws. In August 2025, the Australian federal court partially sided with Epic, ruling that Apple's ban on installing third-party apps and alternative payment methods breached competition law.
Epic is now asking to allow such installation on iPhones without paying Apple, and the company believes this is beyond the scope of the court's decision. The judge found Apple had violated the rules, but also upheld the company's right to “be paid for its technology” and considered security and privacy concerns.
The first hearing on remedies is scheduled for December, and the full trial has been postponed to March 2026 to give Apple time to respond to Epic's proposals.
