Apple Faces Epic Games-Style China Lawsuit Over App Store Practices

A Chinese court has agreed to hear a lawsuit against Apple from Beijing Bodyreader, a developer seeking around $420,000 in damages after their children’s posture correction app was removed from the App Store in 2020.

Bloomberg reports that the case – the first of its kind to be heard in Beijing’s intellectual property court – bears similarities to Epic Games’ 2021 lawsuit against Apple. Bodyreader claims Apple unfairly removed their app citing “dishonest” behavior, while also challenging the company’s 30% commission on app purchases and its control over the iOS ecosystem.

According to court documents reviewed by Bloomberg, Bodyreader argues that Apple’s enforcement of App Store policies is inconsistent. The developer notes that after their original app was removed, they successfully published an identical app under a different name, “Qilin Century,” which remains available on the App Store. Closed-door hearings began Thursday and could conclude this week.

The hearing represents the first time Apple has been forced to defend its standard mobile platform practices against a Chinese developer. Earlier this year, Apple successfully fought off antitrust accusations from a Chinese consumer, but the company still went so far as to appeal to remove references to its market dominance from the ruling.

Bodyreader is seeking monetary damages, an apology, and a court declaration that Apple engages in unfair monopolistic behavior. The developer has also requested that Apple be required to allow third-party app stores and external payment links.

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