Apple is attempting to delay a court order that would require the company to allow iOS app developers in the U.S. to direct users to external payment systems, thereby avoiding Apple’s commission fees. The tech giant filed an emergency motion with an appeals court requesting a partial stay on a prior ruling. A U.S. court recently sided with Epic Games in a prolonged legal battle against Apple, concluding that Apple had not adhered to a 2021 order. This new decision mandates that Apple permit apps on its U.S. App Store to include features redirecting users to external systems for purchases, cease collecting commissions on such transactions, and discontinue displaying ‘scare screens’—pop-up warnings about the risks of non-Apple in-app purchases. Apple argues that the ruling unjustifiably expands the scope of the original injunction, as the court initially did not prohibit Apple from charging commissions on non-Apple payment systems. Apple claims it complied with the 2021 injunction by allowing developers to link to non-Apple payment systems, though it still charged a 27% fee on those transactions and displayed the aforementioned ‘scare screens.’ The company warns that the new order could lead to substantial financial losses, stating that these restrictions are based on actions never deemed unlawful. ‘Without a stay, these extraordinary intrusions into Apple’s business will cause grave irreparable harm,’ Apple stated in its filing.
— new from TechCrunch
