Epic, known for its Fortnite game, largely
lost a trial last year over whether Apple's payment rules for apps were anticompetitive.
That decision found Apple had suitable reasons to force some app makers such as
Epic to use its payment system and take commissions of 15 percent to 30 percent
on their sales.
Following the ruling, Epic appealed in the
9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Apple in its reply on Thursday said Epic had
failed to propose a reasonable alternative to the App Store policies.
"Epic asks the Judiciary to
fundamentally change the App Store by forcing Apple to abandon the integrated
distribution and digital-content delivery model that, among many other
procompetitive benefits, helps safeguard user security and privacy," the
court filing said.
Both Apple and Epic are scheduled to file a
second round of arguments before the appeals panel calls a hearing, for
possibly next year. In support of Epic's appeal, attorneys general for 34 US
states and the District of Columbia said in January that Apple is stifling
competition through its mobile app store.
Outside arguments in support of Apple are
due next Thursday. Experts and critics of the lower-court decision have said it
is striking that the judge found Apple had broken California's unfair
competition law but not federal antitrust law.
Similarly, Apple in its cross-appeal on
Thursday questioned how it could be held liable under state law if its
practices were not found illegal under federal law. © Reuters
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