Apple Faces Legal Deadline in Epic Games Court Battle: A Weekend to Produce 1.3 Million Documents

Apple, the world’s leading tech giant, faces a tight deadline this Monday, as it scrambles to submit 1.3 million documents concerning recent changes to its App Store. This requirement follows a court ruling from 2021, and Apple’s failure to comply could have significant legal ramifications. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson rejected the company’s request for an extension on Friday, forcing Apple into a critical weekend of document review.

The dispute between Apple and Epic Games dates back to 2020, when Epic, the creator of the popular game Fortnite, launched a lawsuit challenging Apple’s App Store policies. The lawsuit focused on Apple’s mandate that developers utilize its payment system, which allows the company to take a commission on in-app purchases. In 2021, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple must enable developers to use external payment methods, a decision designed to curb Apple’s dominance over the App Store. However, she stopped short of labeling Apple’s business practices as monopolistic, which was a partial victory for the company.

Despite the ruling, Epic Games is dissatisfied with how Apple has implemented the changes. The company asserts that Apple’s new App Store rules do not meet the court’s requirements, claiming that Apple is acting in “bad faith.” As the case unfolds, the production of documents detailing Apple’s decision-making process has become central to Epic’s claims.

Extension Request Denied

The situation escalated on Friday when Judge Hixson declined Apple’s request for additional time to gather the documents. Initially, Apple estimated that it would need to produce around 650,000 documents; however, that figure later surged to 1.3 million. Hixson’s response was blunt, characterizing Apple’s late request as an example of “bad” behavior.

In his ruling, Hixson noted that Apple should have anticipated the increased number of documents long before the last-minute request. “Before yesterday’s report, Apple never indicated to Epic Games or the Court that the number of documents exceeded its prior estimate,” he wrote, underscoring the expectation of transparency in legal proceedings.

Judge Hixson expressed frustration over Apple’s handling of the document review process. He suggested that, given Apple’s extensive resources, the company should be able to review the staggering number of documents over the weekend. “It could probably review that many documents in a weekend if it wanted to,” he noted, indicating that time management is crucial.

Despite acknowledging that quick compliance might not benefit Apple, Hixson firmly maintained that the Monday deadline is not flexible. “It’s up to Apple to figure out how to meet that deadline,” he reiterated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Epic’s Claims: A Question of Good Faith

Epic Games maintains that Apple has not fully adhered to the 2021 court order, which aimed to loosen Apple’s control over App Store transactions. While Apple implemented some changes in January, Epic argues that these adjustments fall short of the required compliance. The game developer has accused Apple of a “bad-faith” approach in executing the court’s ruling, demanding more transparency through the requested document production.

Challenges in the Discovery Process

The discovery phase of this legal battle has been fraught with tension. Judge Gonzalez Rogers had directed Apple to submit all relevant documents regarding its new App Store rules after Epic’s initial challenge. When the case was transferred to Judge Hixson, he established a timeline for document production and mandated biweekly status reports from both parties. The search parameters for the documents were proposed by Epic, adding to the pressure on Apple to comply adequately.

As Apple races against the clock to meet its Monday deadline, the implications of its document production extend beyond this single case. Failing to comply could severely impact Apple’s legal standing against Epic Games, potentially altering the trajectory of their ongoing dispute.