How to fight Apple and (maybe) win, with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney

Channels with Peter Kafka

Today's podcast is an in-depth discussion of Apple's App Store rules and how they... wait! Don't leave!

I could try to tell you why Apple's App Store rules are important to both Apple and the digital economy (sadly, I just realized I've been covering them for nearly 15 years, so they better be important). But a better messenger for that task is Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games - the company behind Fortnite.

Sweeney has spent 5 years fighting Apple in court - and by his estimation has sacrificed $1 billion in revenue - over the way Apple runs its App Store. For most of that time it seemed like a futile effort.

But last week a federal judge handed Epic what could be a huge victory, and could potentially cost Apple a meaningful amount of revenue. Apple is going to appeal that ruling, but for now, Sweeney sees this a win for his own company, and many other developers who've chafed at the fees they have to pay Apple every time a consumer wants to give them money.

And if you think none of that matters to you, a normal person, Sweeney is happy to explain why (he thinks) you're wrong.

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