Apple Appeals Court Order to Open App Store Amid Epic Games Dispute

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has requested a federal appeals court to halt parts of a recent U.S. ruling that forces the company to open its App Store to more competition. In a filing with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Apple argued it would suffer "irreparable harm" if the April 30 order is not paused during its ongoing legal appeal.

The court ruling stems from a 2020 antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers recently found Apple in contempt for failing to comply with a 2021 injunction that required the tech giant to allow developers to guide users toward alternative, non-Apple payment options.

Apple’s appeal focuses on two key provisions of the new order: the ban on Apple’s newly introduced 27% fee on developers who process payments outside the App Store, and restrictions on limiting where developers can place external purchase links within their apps. Apple claims the ruling prevents it from managing vital aspects of its business and unfairly forces it to offer free access to its platform.

Epic Games responded, calling Apple’s move a “last-ditch effort to block competition” and criticized what it described as “junk fees” that harm consumers and developers. According to Epic, the ruling has already led to increased competition and better payment options for users.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple intentionally defied the original injunction to protect a multibillion-dollar revenue stream. She accused the company of misleading the court and referred Apple and a senior executive to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation.

Apple maintains that its policies protect user security and ensure a quality app experience, while developers and regulators continue to push for a more open and competitive mobile ecosystem.