Apple Granted Stay Over External Purchase Fee
Apple is preparing to take its App Store fight with Epic Games back to the Supreme Court. In a new filing, the iPhone maker said it plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review another aspect of this long-running case over App Store fees.
In the meantime, Apple sought to pause the appeals court’s ruling limiting how it can charge for external payments. On Monday, April 6, the court granted Apple’s motion, and Epic Games immediately challenged it.
Apple says that it does not want to make multiple major changes to its App Store fee structure. Instead, Apple proposes that the current no-commission setup remain in place until Apple hears back from the Supreme Court. Developers can currently include links to non-App Store purchase options in their apps and Apple charges no fee from purchases made using those links. Apple wants to continue fee-free links and hold off on the long legal battle to determine a fee for the time being.
Additionally, Epic filed its actual response opposing Apple’s original motion to stay the order. In it, the company reaffirms its stance that “Apple’s effort to stay this Court’s mandate is about nothing other than delay,” and argues that “staying the mandate (…) simply delays relief for consumers and allows Apple to continue reaping supracompetitive profits from IAP.”
Previously:
- “Reasonably Necessary” External Purchase Fee
- Apple Files Another Anti-Steering Appeal
- Fortnite Returns to US App Store
- Epic Files Motion to Enforce Injunction
1 Comment RSS · Twitter · Mastodon
Can Epic define "most developers" (as they state in their response in opposition, that "most developers" are holding off doing anything due to uncertainty)? Because practically as soon as the district court ruling holding Apple in contempt was issued, I saw a whole bunch of apps and games I use implement link outs for buying stuff.
I would think Apple holding at 0% while this plays out for potentially up to several years would be EXACTLY what Epic wants. Yes, eventually either a) SCOTUS will set the whole thing aside or b) the contempt order will be modified so Apple can collect something instead of nothing. But in the meantime, take advantage of it and stop whining!
