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Apple vs. Epic judge confirms in-person trial will start on May 3

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has outlined plans for an in-person trial that will require witnesses to travel to Northern California to answer questions before the court.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

March 2, 2021

1 Min Read
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The U.S. District Judge overseeing the high-profile legal battle between Apple and Epic has confirmed the trial will begin on May 3, 2021 -- as previously indicated.

As reported by MacRumors, the date was set during a management conference held on March 1.

Notably, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers outlined plans for an in-person trial that will require witnesses to travel to Northern California to answer questions before the court. 

Rogers claimed those involved in the case have the necessary resources to abide by the quarantine measures necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The court also intends to implement measures that will keep those in attendance safe, including restricting the number of people allowed in the courtroom and the use of social distancing.

Epic and Apple have been at loggerheads over the latter's decision to remove Fortnite from its platform after Epic used an unauthorized third-party payment method to circumvent platform fees.

Rogers has previously indicated the outcome of the trial could have consequences for the wider games industry, and last year warned of "serious ramifications" for other major players including Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo.

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2021

About the Author

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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