Apple Fights Court Order to Allow Third-Party Payment Links in Apps

Apple Inc. is urgently seeking to halt the enforcement of a court order issued by Judge Rogers, which mandates that the company allow developers to include third-party payment links within their apps. Apple has filed a motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that this intervention in its app store operations would cause "irreparable harm."

The tech giant contends that the injunction, stemming from the Epic Games antitrust case, goes beyond reasonable bounds. It not only prohibits Apple from taking a cut on transactions made outside the app but also imposes specific formatting and wording requirements for developer links within apps. Apple asserts that overturning these rules, which have never been deemed illegal, would result in "significant annual revenue losses" and undermine its ability to manage the core functions of its app store.

Epic Games, in response, has labeled Apple's motion as a "desperate attempt to stifle competition and extract exorbitant fees." The company points out that the new regulations have already granted developers the initial freedom to offer better prices and payment options. Apple, however, argues that compliance would strip it of control over the design and business rules of its app store, thereby disrupting the iOS ecosystem. The filing emphasizes that the already delisted Epic would be minimally affected by the stay, while Apple would face "major irreversible damage" if forced to open external links.

Spotify, a music streaming service, has become the first beneficiary of the new rules. Its latest app version has been approved to display subscription prices and external payment options, a move that Spotify claims "enhances transparency and user choice."

This legal battle underscores the ongoing tension between tech giants and app developers over control and revenue sharing in digital marketplaces. Apple's resistance to the court order highlights its determination to maintain its current business model, which has been a cornerstone of its success in the mobile app industry. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how app stores operate and how developers interact with these platforms in the future.