By Sean Maguire ( May 1, 2026, 07:17 GMT | Insight) -- Apple, in its long-running antitrust dispute with Fortnite-creator Epic Games, said the threat of being held in contempt by an Australian court would stop it from “unreasonably” blocking rival app stores and payment systems. Lawyers for Apple suggested the tech giant had learned from "past behavior," referencing a contempt ruling in the US, while Epic's lawyers argued Apple's prescriptive proposed orders showed it had learned "zero." Apple is seeking Australia‑only orders that let local users download apps from rival stores subject to Apple’s review for five years; Epic wants broader, prescriptive remedies applying Australian competition law to what it calls "a global market" that includes Australia. Judge Jonathan Beach adjourned the remedies hearing Friday and reserved his decision for a later date. Apple, in its long-running antitrust dispute with Fornite-creator Epic Games, said the risk of being held in contempt by an Australian court means it will not “unreasonably” block rival app stores and payment systems, arguing that less prescriptive orders would still constrain its conduct after it was found last year to have misused its market power in Australia....
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