Apple Fights Court Order on App Store Fees

Apple is once again contesting a court's decision in its ongoing legal dispute with Epic Games over App Store commissions. The company has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that mandates the inclusion of payment links within apps for all developers. Apple contends that Epic Games' specific litigation should not result in an injunction applicable to unrelated third parties like Microsoft and Spotify.

Furthermore, Apple is challenging a civil contempt order issued by the Ninth Circuit. This order stemmed from Apple's compliance with an injunction requiring developers to offer external payment links. Although Apple permitted these links, it imposed fees on external transactions, which the Ninth Circuit deemed counterproductive and a violation of the injunction's spirit. Apple argues that the original injunction did not explicitly prohibit such fees.

In related developments, Epic Games has announced Fortnite's return to the App Store globally, with the exception of Australia. This move is based on Epic's confidence in the court's stance against Apple's fee structure. The legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, initiated in 2020, continues with no immediate resolution in sight.