Epic’s CEO Compares Ongoing Lawsuit with Civil Rights Movement

During a recent Dealbook online event, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, made some questionable statements. When asked about the ongoing lawsuit with Apple, he stated that “it’s everybody’s duty to fight unfair regulations” and compared it to fighting for one’s civil rights.

“It’s everybody’s duty to fight. It’s not just an option that somebody’s lawyers might decide, but it’s actually our duty to fight that. If we had adhered to all of Apple’s terms and, you know, taken their 30 percent payment processing fees and passed the cost along to our customers, then that would be Epic colluding with Apple to restrain competition on iOS and to inflate prices for consumers.

Tim Sweeney

“So, going along with Apple’s agreement is what is wrong. And that’s why Epic mounted a challenge to this, and you know you can hear of any, and [inaudible] to civil rights fights, where there were actual laws on the books, and the laws were wrong. And people disobeyed them, and it was not wrong to disobey them because to go along with them would be collusion to make them status quo.”

Yeah, that certainly did not go down well with people. Now, sure, Apple and Google’s payment policies may be unfair to a certain extent, and they may conduct some unethical practices, but comparing a lawsuit between two companies with the civil rights movement? Not sure what Tim thought when he said that.

If that wasn’t enough, Tim publically defended his statement on Twitter.

Epic’s CEO Compares Ongoing Lawsuit with Civil Rights Movement
Epic Games

Anyhow, this did not go well for the guy at all, seeing as how even the supporters of Epic Games in the ongoing lawsuit rained a ton of criticism for making such a remark on Twitter, stating how the comparison is just wrong, and there’s nothing more to it than that.

While Tim did say that the lawsuit is not about money, but about leveling the playfield with Apple by having it open up its storefronts to the competition, comparing it to the struggle to abolish discrimination and ensure equal treatment under the law for all people was probably not the best course of action.

Regardless, let’s hope that no such comparisons are done again and await the May 2021 trial of Apple and Epic Games.

Aaryan Sharma

Aaryan Sharma

Meet our Tech Wiz – he’s a true-blooded otaku and an encyclopedia of all things tech! Foodie to the hilt and the clandestine king of online food ordering! There is No Veg burger he doesn’t have an opinion on!

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