SYDNEY, Aug 12 (Reuters) - An Australian court found the

smartphone app stores of Apple ( AAPL ) and Google-owned

Android were uncompetitive, local media reported on

Tuesday, in a partial victory for Fortnite game developer Epic

Games against the tech giants.

Amid a years-long legal dispute brought by Epic against the

dominant smartphone makers in several jurisdictions around the

world, Australia's federal court found the phone makers' app

stores had no protections against anti-competitive behaviour,

the reports said.

Epic Games had claimed Apple ( AAPL ) and Google's fees for downloads

of its games were too high, and that the phone makers made it

impossible for users to download its alternative app store.

The Australian judgment, which ran to 2,000 pages, was not

released by the court on Tuesday, but media said a judge's

summary included the finding that the smartphone companies had

not intentionally breached the law.

In a post on X, Epic said the Australian court "just found

that Apple ( AAPL ) and Google abuse their control over app distribution

and in-app payments to limit competition".

Epic is a U.S.-based games studio with backing from

China's Tencent ( TCTZF ).

"The Epic Games Store and Fortnite will come to iOS in

Australia!" the Epic post said. "This is a WIN for developers

and consumers in Australia!"

Apple ( AAPL ) said in a statement it welcomed the court's rejection

of some of Epic's claims, but strongly disagreed with its ruling

on others.

"Apple ( AAPL ) faces fierce competition in every market where we

operate," the California-based tech giant said.

A Google statement said the company welcomed the court's

rejection of some Epic Games claims but "we disagree with the

court's characterisation of our billing policies and practices,

as well as its findings regarding some of our historical

partnerships, which were all shaped in a fiercely competitive

mobile landscape".

"We will review the full decision when we receive it and

assess our next steps."