• HOLLYWOOD
  • WALL STREET
  • SILICON VALLEY
  • WASHINGTON
  • MEDIA
  • FASHION
Get 1 free article
RECENT AUTHORS
  • Matthew Belloni
  • Theodore Schleifer
  • Tina Nguyen

  • Sign In
  • Join Puck
  • Newsletters
  • Authors
  • Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Join Puck
Welcome back to The Rainmaker! Today, a closer look at a knock-down-drag-out antitrust fight that could define the next couple decades for technology.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
The Rainmaker

PREVIEW VERSION

Start a free 7 day trial to unlock unlimited access to Puck.

Happy Monday. I’m Eriq Gardner.

Welcome back to The Rainmaker! Today, a closer look at the latest twist in Apple vs. Epic Games, the knock-down-drag-out antitrust fight that could define the next couple decades for technology. That, plus merger review news, autonomous driving accidents, Elon Musk, Leslie Moonves, Carlos Watson, and much, much more.

But first…

Can’t see the full story? You’re receiving the free version of The Rainmaker at . For full access to Puck, and to each of my colleagues, you can subscribe here.

Learn More
The Apple-Epic Grudge Match, Round Two
The Apple-Epic Grudge Match, Round Two
A multi-billion dollar suit over Apple’s “internet tax” could affect everything from the survival of Elon Musk’s Twitter to the geopolitics behind TikTok.
ERIQ GARDNER ERIQ GARDNER
Everyone’s talking about Elon Musk’s plan to charge Twitter users $8 per month for those coveted blue check-mark badges, but there’s a crucial detail that always seems to get left out of the discussion: the 30 percent fee that will end up in Apple’s pocket. That’s because Apple insists that developers, like Twitter, use its payment system for any transactions that go through its app store—a global “tax on the Internet,” as Elon once put it, that amounts to tens of billions of dollars in fees every year. Last Monday, Apple updated its rules to take a cut of ad campaigns that are managed through its platform, too, in yet another strike against Meta. There’s no reason to think Elon’s blue check business won’t have to pay the toll.

Well, perhaps one reason. Next Monday, at the James R. Browning Courthouse in San Francisco...

Keep Reading with a Free Trial
FOUR STORIES WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Elon’s Blue-Check Folly
Elon’s Blue-Check Folly
Notes on Silicon Valley’s deep freeze, JayPow’s hidden message, and the WBD mess.
WILLIAM D. COHAN
The CW’s Undertaker
The CW’s Undertaker
Brad Schwartz is taking over the broadcast network, which is now little more than a linear money pit.
MATTHEW BELLONI
Tis’ Hunting Season
It’s Hunting Season
Peter and Jon contextualize a grab bag of recent, dispiriting media news.
PETER HAMBY & JON KELLY
Licht’s Sticky Wicket
Licht’s Sticky Wicket
Notes on CNN’s brutal $100 million financial engineering effort.
DYLAN BYERS
Puck
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Need help? Review our FAQs page or contact us for assistance. For brand partnerships, email ads@puck.news.

Puck is published by Heat Media LLC. 227 W 17th St New York, NY 10011.

SEE THE ARCHIVES

SHARE
Try Puck for free
  • Featuring unprecedented access to elite journalists.
  • Focused on the inside story at the nexus of Hollywood, Wall Street, Washington, and Silicon Valley.
  • Articles, podcasts, newsletters, conference calls, and more.

Already a paying member? Sign in



Become a member

All of the insider knowledge from our top tier authors, in your inbox.

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • FAQ
© 2023 Heat Media All rights reserved.
Become a member

All of the insider knowledge from our top tier authors, in your inbox.

Sign up

Already a member? Sign In

Verify your email!

You should receive a link to log in at .

I DID NOT RECEIVE A LINK

Didn't get an email? Check your spam folder and confirm the spelling of your email, and try again. If you continue to have trouble, reach out to fritz@puck.news.

SIGN UP with Google
SIGN UP with Google
SIGN UP with Apple
SIGN UP with Apple
OR USE EMAIL & PASSWORD
Password strength:

OR
Sign in

Not a member yet? Sign up today

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Apple
Sign in with Apple
OR USE EMAIL & PASSWORD
Don't have a password or need to reset it?

OR
Verify Account

Verify your email!

You should receive a link to log in at .

I DID NOT RECEIVE A LINK

Didn't get an email? Check your spam folder and confirm the spelling of your email, and try again. If you continue to have trouble, reach out to fritz@puck.news.

YOUR EMAIL

Use a different sign in option instead