Apple Files Another Anti-Steering Appeal
Startup accelerator and venture capital firm Y Combinator (YC) today filed an amicus brief supporting Epic Games in Epic’s continued legal fight with Apple. Y Combinator says that Apple’s “anti-steering restraints” have long inhibited the growth and development of technology companies that monetize goods and services through apps.
The company calls on the court to deny Apple’s appeal and uphold the order that required Apple to change its App Store linking rules in the United States.
The court order that required Apple to collect no fees from developers who link to purchases outside of the App Store is unconstitutional, Apple said today in a reply brief directed at Epic Games and filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Apple argues that it has been stripped of its rights to be compensated for its intellectual property in a ruling that sets a dangerous precedent for all companies.
[…]
Should the Ninth Circuit Court find the updated injunction lawful, Apple suggests that the recent Trump v. Casa Supreme Court ruling [PDF] needs to be considered. The ruling said courts do not have the authority to issue universal injunctions that are “broader than necessary to provide complete relief” to the plaintiffs in the case. Epic Games is the only plaintiff in the case, so Apple also argues that the injunction changing the App Store rules for all developers is too broad. Apple says that the injunction should be tailored to Epic and Epic’s interests alone.
The company also says that while the new injunction should be reversed because it relies on privileged documents (which we covered here)[…]
Previously:
- Microsoft Supports Epic Against Apple’s Appeal
- Fortnite Returns to US App Store
- Epic Files Motion to Enforce Injunction
- Apple Appeals Epic Anti-Steering Injunction
- App Review Guidelines Updated for Epic Anti-Steering
- Court Orders Apple to Comply With Anti-Steering Injunction
1 Comment RSS · Twitter · Mastodon
Apple is compensated for its intellectual property by virtue of people buying its hardware and software. I know their lawyers are just trying to keep their jobs, but Apple needs to pull its head out of its butt. The rent-seeking behavior Apple continues to push for is hostile to users, developers, and its own long-term interests (whether it knows it or not).
Sadly, for decades now (but especially with the current U.S. administration) big business feels entitled to throw their weight around at the expense of the common folk. In a saner world than this, true representatives of the people would have reigned this behavior in years ago. Instead, there's nothing but chum in the water and a feeding frenzy for the sharks. Apple (and much shadier businesses we hear nothing about) will grasp at any straw, and make any bad faith argument, if it means they get their way.
