Apple Tries to Delay Ruling That Bars It from Taking a Cut on External App Payments
Apple is urgently fighting a recent court ruling that could fundamentally change how app developers process payments on iOS. The tech giant is seeking to delay enforcement of a decision requiring it to let U.S. developers redirect users to external payment platforms without facing penalties or paying Apple’s commission. This move has stirred intense debate across the mobile payments industry, especially among developers eager to avoid high in-app fees and consumers demanding greater payment flexibility. If you're wondering "Can Apple still take a cut of external app payments?" or "What is Apple's response to the Epic Games court win?" — here's everything you need to know.
In a late Wednesday filing, Apple submitted an emergency motion asking an appeals court for a partial stay. This legal move comes after a major setback for Apple last week, when a U.S. court ruled in favor of Epic Games in their long-standing battle over App Store practices. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that Apple had failed to fully comply with a previous 2021 injunction, prompting the new, stricter ruling.
The latest order mandates that Apple must allow apps on the U.S. App Store to feature links directing users to third-party payment systems. It also prohibits Apple from taking commissions on these external transactions and bans the use of "scare screens"—pop-ups designed to discourage users from purchasing outside Apple's ecosystem. The ruling represents a major victory for developers seeking to lower their payment processing costs and a potential windfall for users seeking better app deals.
Facing the possibility of losing billions in annual revenue, Apple argues the court's new order unfairly broadens the original injunction's scope. According to the company's filing, Apple had already complied with the 2021 decision by permitting developers to link out to external payment options—albeit while imposing a hefty 27% commission and utilizing warning messages. Now, Apple claims that banning its right to charge a commission on these external links would result in "grave irreparable harm" to its business operations.
High-stakes terms like "external app payments," "third-party payment systems," and "developer commission fees" are now at the center of the dispute. Apple stresses that these new restrictions are punitive, not rooted in any finding of illegal conduct, and could cause substantial financial damage if not paused immediately.
Meanwhile, Epic Games fired back at Apple’s emergency motion, labeling it a "last-ditch effort to block competition and extract massive junk fees at the expense of consumers and developers." Epic argues that true competition demands giving developers freedom over payment processing without coercion or hidden costs—a sentiment gaining support across the digital economy.
This legal battle is more than just a clash between two tech giants; it symbolizes a broader industry shift towards lower transaction fees, transparent app store practices, and greater financial choice for consumers. Whether Apple succeeds in delaying the ruling could have far-reaching consequences for the future of mobile commerce, app monetization strategies, and digital platform regulation.
As developers await the court's next decision, the stakes remain sky-high for Apple’s App Store model, the larger mobile payment eco
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