Yazılar

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

/in /tarafından

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.

Belgian Banks Join European Payments Initiative to Expand Wero Digital Wallet Across Europe

/in /tarafından

Five Belgian banks — Argenta, Bank Van Breda, Beobank, Crelan, and vdk bank — announced on Monday that they are joining the European Payments Initiative (EPI) and will roll out the EPI’s digital wallet, Wero, to their customers starting in 2026.

Why It Matters:

The European Payments Initiative was created by European banks to challenge the dominance of U.S. payment giants Visa and Mastercard. Although the EPI has faced setbacks due to some banks exiting the network, it continues to expand its presence.

Key Quote:

Dirk Wouters, CEO of Bank Van Breda, said:
“By integrating Wero into our offering from 2026, we will empower our clients – entrepreneurs and liberal professions – with a fast, secure, and intuitive way to manage their payments which is fully aligned with their daily needs.”

By the Numbers:

  • Wero, launched last year by EPI, already has 40 million registered users across Belgium, France, and Germany.

Cyberattack on Brazil Tech Provider Disrupts Reserve Accounts of Several Financial Institutions

/in /tarafından

Brazil’s central bank revealed on Wednesday that C&M Software, a technology services provider catering to financial institutions without their own connectivity infrastructure, suffered a cyberattack targeting its systems. In response, the central bank ordered C&M to suspend access to the infrastructure it manages for these institutions.

Kamal Zogheib, C&M Software’s commercial director, confirmed the company was a direct victim of the attack, which involved fraudulent use of client credentials to try to access its services. Despite the breach, C&M said its critical systems remain intact and fully operational, with all security protocols activated. The company is working closely with the central bank and Sao Paulo state police as investigations continue.

Brazilian financial institution BMP and five other banks reported unauthorized access to their reserve accounts during the Monday attack. These reserve accounts, held directly at the central bank, are used solely for interbank settlements and are separate from client accounts, which were unaffected. BMP stated it has taken appropriate operational and legal measures and holds sufficient collateral to cover any impacted amounts, ensuring no disruption to its operations or partners.

An anonymous official indicated C&M services about two dozen smaller financial institutions, and the financial impact of the attack does not reach billions of reais. Another source confirmed no losses were sustained by clients.

The central bank refers to these affected entities as “financial institutions lacking their own connectivity infrastructure,” including many digital payment providers that have grown rapidly in Brazil. The Pix instant payment system, operated by the central bank since late 2020, has become the country’s most popular payment method, driving competition and innovation in the sector.