Be sure to recheck your conference call settings The Epic v. Apple trial began this morning with a bunch of kids yelling at each other on a packed phone line. One voice said, "I'm going to suck you all dry to get Fortnite Mobile back."

I missed the commotion when I dialed to hear Epic's opening statement, but QZ reporter Nicolás Rivero caught it, as did The Verge.

While many civil trials have been held in Zoom since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the Epic v. Apple trial is being held in person. Participants are required to wear masks and the number of people in the courtroom is limited.

Microphones are placed on speakers so that the public, the press, and each party's legal team can listen in, and audio from the courtroom is broadcast live on a dial line that supports hundreds of people. The line is not supposed to allow calls outside the courtroom, but apparently it did this morning, and The Verge has been hearing people asking for "Free Fortnite" and "Bring Fortnite back on mobile please judge" (Fortnite Bring Fortnite back on mobile please judge" and playing Travis Scott songs.

Around 9:00 am PST, unaware that this was happening, I made a call and the automated system asked me if I wanted to join as a host. I chose not to participate. Perhaps it didn't matter. I listened to part of Epic's opening statement without confusion.

At any rate, the court settled the matter, which seems like a fitting opening to a legal dispute that began when Epic intentionally broke Apple's rules and launched an anti-Apple PR campaign aimed at Fortnite's player base.

The trial will determine whether it is legal for Apple to lock down app distribution and payment processing on the iPhone and iPad; according to Epic, since the only two truly popular mobile operating systems are iOS and Android, software developers are forced to use them and follow Apple's "oppressive" rules and hand over 30% of their iOS revenue. Epic wants iOS to function like Windows, where software sales and payment processing can be handled independently without the platform owner's permission or payment.

Simply put, Apple's answer is that the iPhone, iOS, App Store, and in-app payment system are part of one package: devices that compete with other devices such as Android phones, Xbox, and PCs. According to Apple, the App Store and its rules make it more convenient and secure for consumers and help companies like Epic make a lot of money; Apple notes that Epic has brought in over $700 million in profits from iOS in the past few years.

The trial is also open to the public; Epic and Apple will hear from witnesses from both companies, including Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and Apple CEO Tim Cook, as well as representatives from other companies, including economists and Lori Wright, vice president of business development at Xbox The trial will be recorded and made available to the public. Note that it is prohibited to record or rebroadcast the audio of the trial (although many have done so).

The trial will set an important precedent, but it is not expected to be action-packed; Epic and Apple will repeat the arguments they have been making for the past year (we explain what the trial will be about here), and the trial is expected to last about two weeks. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will then issue a ruling.