Team Swini CEO Expresses Optimism on Twitter
Reported by AppleInsider and MacRumors
[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] "Looking forward to visiting Korea to discuss competition in application (app) stores and payment systems." (Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, Twitter)
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, along with the anti-Apple coalition, is drawing global attention by participating in an international seminar for a fair mobile app ecosystem held in Korea.
IT specialty media AppleInsider reported on the 11th (local time) that the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF) in the U.S., including CEO Sweeney and related personnel, will visit Korea on the 16th (Korean time) to attend the international seminar for creating a fair mobile app ecosystem. Cedric O, France's Minister of Digital Affairs, and Megan Dimuzio, Secretary-General of CAF, will also attend.
The discussion topics have not been specified in detail, but criticism of Apple and Google's app market operation methods and in-app payments is expected to be the main focus.
This event was organized by Democratic Party lawmaker Seungrae Jo, the ruling party's ranking member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, CAF, and the Korea Internet Corporations Association. National Assembly Speaker Byungseok Park, Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee Chairman Wonwook Lee, Korea Communications Commission Vice Chairman Hyun Kim, and Korea Internet Corporations Association Chairman Seongho Park will deliver congratulatory remarks either in person or via video. Bumgang Seo, Chairman of the Korea Webtoon Industry Association, will participate as a designated discussant and present on legislation and the content ecosystem in Korea.
AppleInsider also noted that the event is held following the passage of the "Telecommunications Business Act Amendment," which requires app market companies to allow third-party payment systems. The amendment, also known as the "Google Gapjil Prevention Act," aims to prohibit app market operators such as Apple and Google from abusing their dominance to force app developers to use in-app payments.
Another IT specialty media, MacRumors, reported, "Korea is the place where the bill that could fundamentally change the App Store originated," adding, "After the bill passed, Epic Games requested Apple to restore its game 'Fortnite' on the Korean App Store." Fortnite was completely removed from Apple's global App Store since August 2020 when Epic Games refused to comply with Apple's in-app payment method.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
