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Australian Court Partly Rules Against Apple and Google in Epic Games Antitrust Case

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An Australian federal court has ruled that Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android app marketplace engage in uncompetitive practices, handing Epic Games a partial victory in its long-running legal battle against the tech giants.

The 2,000-page judgment, not yet publicly released, found that Apple and Google’s app stores lacked safeguards against anti-competitive behavior. However, the court also determined that the companies had not intentionally violated the law, local media reported.

Epic Games argued that both Apple and Google charged excessive fees for app downloads and in-app purchases while blocking users from installing alternative app stores. In response to the ruling, Epic said on X that the decision confirmed the companies “abuse their control over app distribution and in-app payments to limit competition.” The company also announced that Fortnite and the Epic Games Store would soon be available on iOS devices in Australia, calling it a win for both developers and consumers.

Apple welcomed the court’s dismissal of some of Epic’s claims but expressed strong disagreement with the findings on competition, maintaining that it faces “fierce competition in every market where we operate.” Google similarly said it would review the full judgment but disagreed with the court’s characterization of its billing practices and certain historical partnerships.

The ruling adds to Epic Games’ global campaign challenging the dominance of app distribution systems controlled by Apple and Google, which has included high-profile cases in the United States and Europe.

ESPN-NFL Deal Faces U.S. Justice Department Antitrust Review Amid Competition Concerns

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The National Football League’s deal with Walt Disney’s ESPN, involving Disney acquiring the NFL Network and other media assets in exchange for the NFL receiving a 10% equity stake in ESPN, is expected to face a thorough antitrust review by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Legal experts warn the transaction could raise significant competition concerns by potentially giving Disney greater control over sports broadcasting, which might reduce competition and increase costs for consumers. Andre P. Barlow, a partner at Doyle, Barlow & Mazard, noted the deal might lead to higher prices for streaming services or game access due to Disney’s dominance in sports media.

The DOJ’s Antitrust Division is anticipated to take up to 12 months to review the deal amid ongoing scrutiny of Disney’s recent acquisition attempts, including a controlling stake in Fubo TV, a sports streaming service.

This regulatory attention coincides with concerns raised in the U.S. Senate about rising costs for sports fans as more games move to streaming platforms. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz highlighted the cultural importance of sports and questioned why it is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to watch games.

The NFL has reportedly engaged with about 30 congressional offices to discuss the deal’s potential to increase consumer choice. Under the agreement, ESPN would incorporate the NFL Network into its sports programming and streaming service, and merge fantasy football offerings with the NFL’s. The NFL would retain streaming rights to NFL RedZone, while ESPN would distribute it to cable and satellite providers.

Disney’s previous large-scale acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets in 2018 received rapid approval, although it required divestment of regional sports networks. Experts expect the current NFL-ESPN deal to undergo more detailed scrutiny.

Political factors may further complicate the process, including former President Trump’s past interventions related to NFL team naming controversies and lawsuits affecting media mergers.

Currently, ESPN is 80% owned by ABC Inc., a Disney subsidiary, and 20% by Hearst. The deal would reduce ABC’s stake to 72% and Hearst’s to 18% to accommodate the NFL’s 10% ownership.

Google Hires Key Windsurf Executives in $2.4 Billion Deal to Boost AI Coding Efforts

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Alphabet’s Google has secured several leading staff members from AI code-generation startup Windsurf as part of a $2.4 billion licensing deal, the companies announced on Friday. The deal grants Google non-exclusive rights to use some of Windsurf’s technology but does not involve Google taking any ownership stake or controlling interest in the startup.

Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and members of the startup’s research and development team will join Google’s DeepMind AI division, focusing on advancing agentic coding projects, particularly the Gemini initiative. This move follows months of Windsurf’s discussions with OpenAI about a potential acquisition valued at around $3 billion.

Google praised the acquisition of top AI coding talent, positioning the deal as a strategic win to accelerate innovation in AI-assisted coding tools. Windsurf investors will gain liquidity through the licensing fees while maintaining their stakes in the company.

This deal is part of a growing trend of “acquihire” arrangements in the tech sector, where major companies hire startup teams without acquiring full ownership, often sidestepping regulatory scrutiny. Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have all engaged in similar deals in recent years, sparking some antitrust investigations.

Windsurf will continue operating independently with most of its approximately 250 employees remaining, and Jeff Wang stepping in as interim CEO, with Graham Moreno appointed as president. The startup plans to prioritize product innovation for enterprise clients going forward.