Apple posted an emergency call to block the payment changes of the App Store ordered by the court, in the midst of its current legal battle against EPIC Games.
Apple defies the restrictions of the App Store
In a file submitted Wednesday to the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Apple asked to interrupt two key parties of an order from the district court. The Company wishes to stop the ban on commissions for external purchases and block new restrictions on how links to alternative payment methods appear in iOS applications.
These measures arise from the recent decision of the contempt of judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The judge found Apple in violation of an order of the 2021 court which forced the technology giant to allow developers to direct users to unpaid payment platforms. According to the court, Apple deliberately violated this order by creating obstacles for developers and limiting competition.
Apple insists that it is satisfied with the order by deploying a new system which allowed the developers to add external links but still billed a commission from 12% to 27%. He also limited when such links could appear. But the judge ruled that this configuration contradicted the spirit of his original decision and did not offer developers a fair alternative.
Apple repelled
In its emergency file, Apple said that the court had exceeded the permanent changes in its commercial operations. The company said that the order requires providing free access to its services and intellectual property, which, according to Apple, is both legally and economically unreasonable.
“These new rules are not temporary sanctions for non-compliance,” said Apple, but sustainable restrictions that threaten the “fundamental aspects of its commercial operations”.
The Company asks the Court of Appeal to respond before May 28, saying that it could undergo massive financial losses if the changes are not interrupted.
Epic games restore
Meanwhile, popular applications like Spotify, Kindle and Patreon have already added direct links to external payment options, taking advantage of the decision while Apple’s call is progressing.
