Apple has asked the federal appeals court to pause a district judge’s ruling that mandates increased competition in the Apple App Store, arguing that failure to do so would cause them irreparable damage.
This request follows a district court’s order requiring Apple to relax its restrictions, stemming from a 2020 antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite.
Among the changes are the rates Apple charges developers purchasing outside the app store, currently set at 27%, and the limitations on where developers can display links for users to make off-store purchases.
The tech giant filed its appeal on Wednesday in the Ninth Circuit Court, asserting that the district court’s ruling “permanently prevents Apple from controlling essential aspects of its business operations, including safeguarding platform integrity and managing in-app purchases.”
Epic Games responded, stating that Apple’s motion represents, perhaps, a desperate effort to hinder competition and eliminate substantial fees that negatively affect consumers and developers.
In the wake of the district court’s ruling, Epic noted witnessing an influx of legitimate competition, as developers have begun enhancing their apps with improved payment options and deals for consumers. “We’re pushing forward to bring Fortnite to iPhone and iPad in the U.S. this week,” they added.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers commented that Apple seemed intent on preserving a billion-dollar revenue stream in defiance of the court’s injunction. Moreover, she mentioned that Apple may have misconstrued the court’s stance on compliance with the injunction and flagged potential criminal contempt issues to federal prosecutors.
