Apple must continue allowing web links and external payment options within its App Store after an appeals court denied the company’s request to halt a judge’s previous order, escalating the ongoing legal battle with Epic Games.
In April, a federal judge issued a ruling criticizing Apple for failing to comply with a previous court order. The judge mandated that Apple allow developers to include web links, cease restricting link formatting, and permit external payment options without requiring a revenue cut for Apple. Apple promptly appealed this order and sought to have it paused pending the resolution of further legal proceedings.
The appeals court has now rejected Apple’s emergency request, stating it was “not persuaded” that blocking the order was appropriate. The court considered factors such as Apple’s likelihood of success on appeal, potential irreparable harm to Apple, the impact on other parties if the order were halted, and the public interest.
Following the April ruling, major applications like Spotify and Kindle quickly implemented options for users to make purchases outside the App Store via web links. Fortnite also returned, presenting users with a choice between Apple’s in-app payment system and Epic’s own payment and rewards program, although Epic CEO Tim Sweeney noted usage currently splits roughly 60-40 in favor of Apple’s system.
An Apple spokesperson, Olivia Dalton, commented on the decision, stating, “We are disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court’s order, and we’ll continue to argue our case during the appeals process. As we’ve said before, we strongly disagree with the district court’s opinion. Our goal is to ensure the App Store remains an incredible opportunity for developers and a safe and trusted experience for our users.”
The appeals court’s denial suggests a challenging path ahead for Apple as it seeks to overturn the original order that requires greater flexibility for developers regarding payment systems and user communication within the App Store.
