The Epic Games vs. Apple legal battle, one of the longest-running legal battles in the tech world, continues unabated. Following the latest decision by the US Court of Appeals, a new statement has been released through the company’s CEO, Tim Sweeney. While the court ruled that Apple has the right to charge a “reasonable fee,” the company declared it will never pay Apple a percentage of revenue (commission) from sales made through external links.

Epic Games’ statement on Apple: “The era of extortion is over.”

Speaking to The Verge, CEO Tim Sweeney described the court’s decision as a victory for developers. The Epic Games statement on Apple clearly demonstrates the company’s position: they are prepared to pay a fixed fee for Apple’s operational costs, such as app reviews and security scans, but they consider percentage commissions on sales to be “arbitrary and unnecessary fees.”

The company argues, “If reviewing an app costs Apple money, then paying a fixed processing fee for that is reasonable. However, taking a percentage of a developer’s earnings is something Apple never deserves.” According to Epic Games, this decision has “forever” dismantled Apple’s theory of charging arbitrary fees for access.

The Court of Appeals partially overturned the lower court’s “no commission” ban on Apple. The court acknowledged Apple’s right to compensation for intellectual property rights, but upheld the previous 27% commission rate and restrictive policies as illegal. The case has now been sent back to the District Court to determine a “fair and reasonable” fee structure.

Epic Games believes this US decision will have global repercussions. The company argues that regulators in no other country would allow a fee model deemed illegal by US courts, highlighting the international dimension of the fight.

So, what are your thoughts on this never-ending battle between Epic Games and Apple? Do you think Epic Games’ “fixed fee” proposal is fair? Thoughts