The company was punished for violating child protection law by creating eye-catching adverts aimed at children in its in-game store
Epic Games, creator of the video game phenomenon Fortnite, was fined €1.125 million in the Netherlands for violating consumer protection law by creating engaging advertisements aimed at children. The company revealed that it will have to appeal the fine, but will comply with the requests of the European Court.
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Fortnite It is a worldwide success and, since it is available for free on all platforms, it has a huge appeal for children. Quite colorful and with a game which can be suitable for all ages, the game attracts a lot of attention thanks to the various collaborations they have, including skins and items from various intellectual properties, such as the heroes of wonderStar Wars, Dragon Ball, Naruto and even pop singers.
However, the game and Epic Games were targeted by the Dutch court due to the aggressive strategy applied to the in-game item shop, using phrases such as “buy now”, classified as harmful to children.
According to the country’s consumer and market watchdog, the Authority for Consumer Affairs and Markets (ACM), the countdown to the purchase of items and the number of advertisements could make children feel like they are missing out. something by not purchasing. increasing the consumerist impulse to spend money. The official statement from the company was as follows, via the website Games industry:
“The information in the ACM’s decision contains significant factual errors about how Fortnite and the Item Shop operate. The changes requested by the ACM would result in a worse experience for players. We will appeal this decision. While we have not received a response, the Players from the Netherlands under the age of 18 will not be able to view or purchase items left in the store for less than 48 hours, starting May 24, 2024.”
If the appeal is rejected, the company has until June 10 to respond to requests from the country’s regulator.
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Epic’s legal problems generate discussion in the industry
This is not the first legal issue that Epic Games has faced, the most well-known being the legal battle that the company has fought Applewhich led to the withdrawal of the art Fortnite from the App Store. This happened because the company gave discounts for the purchase of in-game items outside the Apple Store, while for in-game purchases, through Apple, the prices were always higher.
The removal of the game from the store still stands today, as players must access other systems, such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia Geforce Now to play on Apple mobile devices.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
