Apple has fired back in a lawsuit alleging its iPhone and iPad devices equipped with Touch ID and Face ID technology infringe patents held by an Australian non-practicing entity, hitting the company with its own case claiming the patents are invalid.
Apple has reached the end of the line in its attempts to move a competition dispute with Fortnite game maker Epic Games to California, with the High Court denying the tech company’s special leave application to appeal a judgment that found there were “strong reasons” for keeping the matter in Australia.
Apple has rejected claims that it misused its market power by pulling Epic Games’ popular Fortnite game from its App Store and says the move did not affect the game developer’s business because most of its revenue comes from other platforms.
Apple and Google’s legal woes in Australia are set to worsen, with a leading class action firm preparing to file class actions against the Silicon Valley giants for alleged competition and consumer law violations.
Epic Game’s plan to lead econometric evidence in its dispute with Apple could be the first time such evidence has been led in a competition case in Australia, a judge has said, as he warned that the companies’ “unlimited resources and enthusiasm for victory” should not bog the case down.
Apple has been hit with a lawsuit alleging iPhone and iPad devices sold in Australia since at least 2014 and equipped with Touch and Face ID technology infringe two patents held by a non-practicing entity.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating competition concerns about Appleās refusal to allow third party access to the near-field communication chip that allows iPhone users to make ‘tap and go’ payments through Apple Pay.
The Full Federal Court took a “radical” and unorthodox approach with far-reaching consequences by keeping Apple’s competition dispute with Fortnite game maker Epic Games in Australia, the Silicon Valley giant has told the High Court.
Google is pressing forward with an application to stay Fortnite game maker Epic Games’ competition lawsuit over its Google Play store terms, despite the Full Court rejecting a similar move by Apple.
Video game developer Epic Games has asked the Full Federal Court to overturn an “illogical” decision sending its competition lawsuit against Apple to California, saying the move would have a “chilling effect” on the enforcement of Australia’s competition laws.