There are roughly 15 million Australians currently suing Apple and Google, and they don’t even know it. You’re probably one of them.
If you ask Google and Apple, it's all part of offering a sophisticated product that guarantees consumer safety. His verdict could fundamentally reshape the tech we rely on every day, and lead to financial compensation for millions of Australian consumers. Fighting words: "Success is not illegal" — one of Apple's most touted quotes from US District Court Judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who ruled mostly in Apple's favour.Playing for: Like Google, Apple is aiming to maintain the status quo for its app store, and prove to the world it's playing fair.Market stats: Epic Games runs its own app store, and at the end of 2023, it reported approximately 270 million users globally, via PC.
Fighting words: "As a developer, I feel I have no power at all with Apple or Google. I'm just a statistic to them. But as a class action, we're more like a union .... some real negotiating power" — Graham Dawson, independent app developer. But there are real stakes behind this lawyer's picnic. It boils down to what you're being charged for your most-used tech: your smartphone apps.
"As a class action, we're more like a union or a body and we actually do have some negotiating power." "They talk a lot about … this walled garden and we have to protect you from yourselves and the risks you expose yourself to," he said.He and his two best friends first decided to start a games company in primary school.
If Epic Games does win, and App Store fees do drop, Mr Lockrey doesn't believe all developers would pass on the savings directly to consumers."For us, it would probably manifest in allowing us to be a little bit more ambitious with our projects.""Five out of every 100 games usually breaking even.
For example, Google allows any app to be installed on its devices, and for users to access app stores other than Google Play — even if the process isn’t streamlined. That's less possible in Australia according to Dr Kemp, because of laws passed in 2017, prohibiting the misuse of market power.