Effect of Google Fair Trade Act... Epic Games' 'Fortnite' Re-released in Korea

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Global game company Epic Games' 'Fortnite' is re-releasing in South Korea. This is the effect of the 'Google Abuse Prevention Act (Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act),' which South Korea legislated first in the world.

Epic Games' Fortnite Twitter account stated on the 10th, "Epic has requested Apple to restore the Fortnite developer account," and added, "Epic plans to re-release Fortnite on Korean iOS by complying with Korea's new law, offering both its own payment system and Apple payment side by side."

Epic Games is a game company that challenged the monopoly of app markets such as Google Play and Apple App Store. Previously, in August last year, Epic Games opposed Apple App Store's 30% commission policy and tried to introduce its own payment system but was removed from the app market.

They have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, and legal battles are ongoing.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, welcomed the passage of the Google Abuse Prevention Act in South Korea, saying, "Just as former U.S. President John F. Kennedy said in front of the Berlin Wall in 1963, developers worldwide can proudly say, ‘I am Korean.’" He evaluated, "Korea has rejected the monopoly of digital commerce and recognized open platforms as a right."

Meanwhile, the Google Abuse Prevention Act, passed by the National Assembly on the 31st of last month, prohibits app market operators such as Google and Apple from forcing in-app payments on content providers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.