Apple has told Epic it wont allow Fortnite back onto its platforms until after the judges ruling in their recent court case has been finalized and all avenues of appeal have been exhausted, according to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney.
Sweeney posted a pair of emails on Twitter today, the first one he sent to Apple last week saying that Epic has paid $6 million to Apple as ordered to by the judge, and requesting the reactivation of the companys developer account.
The second email was a response from Apples legal representation pointing out that the judge had ruled the termination of Epics developer license was valid, and noting "Epics duplicitous conduct in the past," a reference to the company launching an alternative payment method in Fortnite that it knew violated the rules of that license.
"Apple has exercised its discretion not to reinstate Epics developer program account at this time," Apples legal counsel said. "Furthermore, Apple will not consider any further requests for reinstatement until the district courts judgment becomes final and nonappealable."
Sweeny said the appeals process on the case could take five years. Epic has filed a notice of appeal over the ruling, in which it lost nine of ten counts.
"Apple lied," Sweeney said. "Apple spent a year telling the world, the court, and the press theyd welcome Epics return to the App Store if they agree to play by the same rules as everyone else. Epic agreed, and now Apple has reneged in another abuse of its monopoly power over a billion users."