Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege
United States

Apple fights court order to open App Store amid antitrust battle

Image Credits: UnsplashImage Credits: Unsplash
  • Apple appeals court order, seeking to pause App Store changes that would allow more competition, arguing it would cause "irreparable harm."
  • Judge ruled Apple in contempt for imposing a 27% fee on external purchases, calling it a tactic to circumvent a 2021 antitrust injunction.
  • Case could reshape tech industry, as global regulators (like the EU and DOJ) challenge Apple’s control over app payments and distribution.

[UNITED STATES] Apple has requested a federal appeals court to temporarily halt key provisions of a U.S. judge’s ruling, which requires the tech giant to immediately open its profitable App Store to more competition.

The legal clash between Apple and Epic Games has significant ramifications for the wider tech sector, where the practices surrounding app stores and their associated fees are facing increasing scrutiny from both regulators and developers. Companies such as Spotify and Match Group have voiced concerns over Apple’s commission structure, which ranges from 15% to 30%, arguing that it limits competition and drives up prices for consumers. The outcome of this case could establish a precedent for regulating other platforms, including Google’s Play Store, in the future.

In a filing submitted Wednesday to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Apple argued that it would face irreparable harm if the court does not pause the April 30 order while the company’s legal challenge is ongoing.

Apple is contesting a ruling that found the company in contempt of a previous court order related to a 2020 antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the maker of the popular online game Fortnite.

The dispute began when Epic Games deliberately violated Apple’s App Store policies in 2020 by introducing a direct payment system within Fortnite to bypass Apple’s commission fees. Apple swiftly removed Fortnite from the App Store, leading to Epic’s lawsuit and a high-profile public relations campaign that framed the battle as one for fair competition. Since then, the case has become central to global discussions about Big Tech’s dominance and antitrust enforcement.

In its recent filing, Apple argued that the new ruling would interfere with its ability to "exercise control over core aspects of its business operations."

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had ordered Apple to discontinue several practices that she determined were aimed at circumventing the previous injunction. Apple’s filing highlighted two of these measures, including the court’s ban on a new 27% fee that Apple imposed on app developers when users make purchases outside of the App Store.

Legal experts note that Apple’s 27% fee—just shy of its standard 30% cut—has been criticized as a workaround to maintain revenue while nominally complying with the injunction. Critics argue that the fee undermines the intent of the court’s order, as it discourages developers from seeking alternative payment options. This approach has been compared to similar tactics used by other tech giants facing regulatory pressure, such as Meta’s adjustments to ad pricing in response to privacy reforms.

In its filing, Apple contended that a federal court cannot "force Apple to permanently give away free access to its products and services." Apple is also challenging part of the judge’s order that prohibits the company from restricting where developers can place links to external payment options outside the app. Epic Games did not respond to a request for comment.

The ongoing legal battle coincides with increased regulatory scrutiny of Apple on a global scale. The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force earlier this year, mandates that Apple allow third-party app stores and payment systems in the EU—a change the company has reluctantly implemented. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a broad antitrust lawsuit against Apple in March, accusing the company of monopolizing the smartphone market. These parallel legal actions indicate growing pressure on Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem from multiple fronts.

In the original lawsuit, Epic Games sued Apple to challenge its control over in-app transactions and the distribution of apps on its iOS platform. Apple was found to have willfully violated a 2021 injunction intended to give developers greater freedom to direct consumers toward potentially cheaper non-Apple payment options, according to Gonzalez Rogers’ ruling.

"Apple sought to preserve a revenue stream worth billions in direct defiance of this court’s injunction," Gonzalez Rogers wrote. She also stated that Apple had misled the court about its efforts to comply with the injunction and referred the company, along with one of its executives, to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation.


Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege
Tech United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 8, 2025 at 9:30:00 AM

Microsoft pushes for AI permitting and data access

[UNITED STATES] Microsoft is set to make a major push in front of U.S. lawmakers this week, urging senators to expedite the permitting...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 8, 2025 at 9:30:00 AM

Tesla faces trademark setback in Robotaxi plans

[WORLD] Tesla’s ambitious plans for an autonomous ride-hailing service were dealt a blow as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently denied...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 7, 2025 at 11:30:00 AM

Apple TV faces quality challenge

[WORLD] Since its 2019 launch, Apple TV+ has distinguished itself in the crowded streaming landscape by prioritizing high-caliber content over sheer volume. Under...

Tech United States
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 7, 2025 at 11:30:00 AM

Tesla launches cheaper Model Y variant to boost sales

[UNITED STATES] Tesla unveiled a more affordable version of its Model Y on Tuesday, offering a new long-range rear-wheel drive variant in the...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 7, 2025 at 10:30:00 AM

OpenAI reduces Microsoft revenue share amid restructuring

[WORLD] OpenAI is set to reduce its revenue share agreement with Microsoft as part of a significant restructuring effort, according to a report...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 6, 2025 at 10:00:00 AM

Musk moves ahead with OpenAI lawsuit

[WORLD] Elon Musk has confirmed his intention to continue with his lawsuit against OpenAI, despite the company's recent decision to maintain nonprofit oversight,...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 6, 2025 at 8:00:00 AM

OpenAI to stay nonprofit

[WORLD] OpenAI has decided to retain its nonprofit governance structure, abandoning its earlier plan to convert into a for-profit company. This decision follows...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 6, 2025 at 6:30:00 AM

Battery recycling powers China’s green economy

[WORLD] In the age of clean energy, Ma Long has found fortune where others see waste. His company, based in central China and...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 6, 2025 at 12:30:00 AM

Apple appeals contempt ruling in epic case

[WORLD] Apple Inc. has announced plans to appeal a recent U.S. District Court ruling that found the company in contempt for failing to...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 5, 2025 at 12:00:00 PM

Apple relaxes App Store rules

[WORLD] Apple has announced significant changes to its App Store policies, allowing developers to include external payment links within their apps for the...

Tech World
Image Credits: Unsplash
TechMay 2, 2025 at 10:30:00 AM

Nvidia warns US lawmakers about Huawei’s AI chip threat

[WORLD] Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently met with members of the U.S. Congress to express concerns about Huawei Technologies’ expanding artificial intelligence capabilities,...

Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege
Load More
Ad Banner
Advertisement by Open Privilege