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Apple has won a legal battle against Fortnite publisher Epic over app store payment rules. The Supreme Court allowed the tech giant to continue with its current payment system, and no change will be required.
Apple and Epic’s legal dispute started in 2020 after Apple forced the game maker to use the App Store payment system instead of directing users to other payment methods. Epic filed its lawsuit against Apple the same year and accused the iPhone maker of running a monopoly through its App Store by requesting a 30% commission. The US Supreme Court has now ruled that Apple can keep up with its current App Store payment system.
A federal judge has previously issued an injunction that could force Apple to be more flexible with its payment system. However, Justice Elena Kagan at the US Supreme Court has declined that injunction. This means Epic’s last hopes for loosening App Store rules are doomed.
Supreme Court allows Apple to continue with its App Store payment system
Back in 2021, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple had violated California’s unfair competition law. The judge argued that the tech giant prevented app developers from sharing links to other payment methods outside the App Store. Apple later got 90 days to bring the case to the Supreme Court. In response, Epic said this decision would “injure not only Epic but innumerable consumers and other app developers for a significant period of time.”
App Store commission, dubbed “Apple tax,” has always been controversial for the company. Apple currently charges a 30% fee for apps and in-app purchases. This amount is significantly higher than the rival platform Play Store.
The Mountain View-based company argues that complying with court rulings to change the App Store payment rules would force them to change their business model. Additionally, such orders could limit a company’s capability to protect users from fraud, scams, malware, spyware, and objectionable content.