LONDON (AP) 鈥 European Union regulators said they want to question Apple over accusations that it blocked video game company Epic Games from setting up its own app store, in a possible violation of digital rules that took effect in the 27-nation bloc Thursday.
It's a fresh escalation of the high-stakes battle between the two companies. Epic, maker of the popular game Fortnite, has spent years fighting Apple鈥檚 exclusive .
Epic asserted Wednesday that Apple thwarted its attempt to set up its own iOS app marketplace to compete with Apple's App Store, calling it a breach of .
The sweeping set of rules, designed to stop big tech companies from cornering digital markets, have forced Apple to allow people in Europe to download iPhone apps from stores not operated by the U.S. tech giant 鈥 a move it's long resisted.
The European Commission, the EU's top antitrust watchdog, said in a statement Thursday that it has 鈥渞equested further explanations on this from Apple under the DMA.鈥 The rules threaten penalties that could reach into the billions for violations.
Apple has already been hit this week with a for thwarting music streaming competition.
The commission said it's 鈥渁lso evaluating whether Apple鈥檚 actions raise doubts on their compliance鈥 with other EU regulations including the , a second set of regulations in the bloc's digital rulebook that prohibit tech companies from 鈥漚rbitrary application" of their terms and conditions.
Epic by rejecting an alternative iPhone app store that it planned to set up in Sweden to serve European Union users.
It accused Apple of retaliating for , who spearheaded a mostly unsuccessful antitrust case against the iPhone App Store in the U.S.
Apple said its action was justified because of Epic's previous unlawful actions and litigation that resulted in the .
Apple after it tried to get around restrictions that Apple says protect the security and privacy of iPhone users, while also helping recoup some of the investment that powers one of the world鈥檚 most ubiquitous devices.
鈥淓pic鈥檚 egregious breach of its contractual obligations to Apple led courts to determine that Apple has the right to terminate 鈥榓ny or all of Epic Games鈥 wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games鈥 control at any time and at Apple鈥檚 sole discretion,'" Apple said in a statement. "In light of Epic鈥檚 past and ongoing behavior, Apple chose to exercise that right.鈥
