Apple and Google Exposed: The Ultimate Antitrust Smackdown Australia Couldn’t Ignore
Hello everyone. Strap in, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the latest episode of “Mega-Corporations Getting Their Fingers Stuck in the Monopoly Cookie Jar.” And no, unlike the board game, you don’t get out with a cheerful card and a colorful banknote – you get slapped with a 2000-page judgment that says, in legalese, “Stop being greedy control freaks.”
What Actually Happened?
In a plot twist worthy of a game developer’s alternate ending DLC, the Australian Federal Court has decided that Apple and Google, the twin Death Stars of the mobile app galaxy, have indeed been indulging in anticompetitive behavior. Epic Games – yes, the people still trying to make Fortnite the center of the universe – launched lawsuits against both in 2020 because they didn’t like the 30% commission fees and being yeeted out of the App Store and Google Play when they bypassed the toll gates.
The U.S.? Epic lost that fight like a level 1 mage charging a max-level raid boss. Australia? Different story. Down under, the court found that Google in particular cooked up an illegal monopoly in the Android market, and that both tech giants had basically constructed walled gardens so high you’d need a grappling hook and DLC jetpack to get in – all while locking out rivals like Epic’s own store.
The Court’s Ruling: A Doctor’s Diagnosis
Think of this case like a particularly stubborn patient. Justice Jonathan Beach, apparently with enough legal stamina to read (and write) a 2000-page ruling, diagnosed Apple as having “a substantial degree of market power,” which in business terms is like checking someone’s bloodwork and finding their cholesterol level replaced entirely with raw greed. Both companies breached Section 46 of Australia’s Competition Act, meaning they used that power to choke off any potential threat – much like a firewall that deletes not just the viruses, but the competition too.
That said, Beach didn’t swallow Epic’s entire prescription. He rejected claims that the giants breached consumer law and found they hadn’t engaged in unconscionable conduct – which is the legal way of saying, “They may be bad, but they’re not that bad… yet.”
Corporate Damage Control Mode Activated
Apple popped out of the medical bay to state that it “welcomed” the rejection of some claims – translation: “We’re grateful we didn’t take a full critical hit to the hull.” Google deployed the same PR shield buff, adding that they didn’t like the characterization of their billing practices. Which is corporate code for: “We still like 30% commissions and we’re not giving up our loot chest without a fight.”
Both are, predictably, “reviewing the decision,” which usually means doubling down on lawyer XP grinding in preparation for the inevitable appeal boss battle.
Epic’s Victory Dance
Epic Games, naturally, is celebrating like they just unlocked a legendary skin drop. They’ve already announced that Fortnite will soon be returning to Australia, and – here’s the big part – the Epic Games Store will land on iOS in the U.S. This is less a mic drop and more of a “Hey Apple, we’re setting up shop in your backyard, want to come over for tea?”
The Bigger Picture (and the Conspiracy Angle)
If you’re not paying attention to these cases, you’re missing a fundamental game mechanic: control over digital distribution. Apple and Google have, for years, been the unbeatable duo in the loot economy, siphoning rent from every transaction like some dystopian in-game tax. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if they aren’t just protecting “security” but rather protecting the golden goose that funds their entire microtransaction-heavy ecosystem.
Australia is now forcing them to at least admit they’ve been spawn camping the competition – the question is whether this ruling becomes an exportable patch to other jurisdictions or remains region-locked content.
Final Verdict
This wasn’t a complete win for Epic, but it’s a decisive enough hit to put dents in Apple and Google’s armor. Is this game over? Absolutely not. This is just the first phase of the boss fight, and if history has taught us anything, these companies have a knack for regenerating shields faster than you can say “monopoly.” But it’s refreshing to see a court – particularly one outside the U.S. – call them out for what they are: gatekeepers who’ve been charging admission while pretending it’s for your safety.
My overall impression? Good for Epic on this round. Enjoy your loot drop, because the next battle will be even nastier.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is entirely my opinion.
Article source: Australian court finds Apple, Google guilty of being anticompetitive, https://www.ghacks.net/2025/08/12/australian-court-finds-apple-google-guilty-of-being-anticompetitive/
