Apple vs. Epic Isn’t Over Yet, Here’s What Apple’s Appeal Means for Developers and the App Store.
Apple isn’t backing down. Just days after a federal judge handed down a blistering contempt ruling, the company has officially filed an appeal as reported by The Verge.
This legal back-and-forth stems from its long-running battle with Epic Games, and now it’s heating up again in a way that could reshape how developers handle payments in the U.S. App Store.
What’s This All About?
At the heart of this fight is a 2021 court order that forced Apple to allow developers to steer users to outside payment options. It was a win for Epic Games, at least on that point. Apple technically complied, but in a way that left a bad taste. It limited developers to just one link and still tried to collect a 12% to 27% cut from purchases made through that link. Not exactly the open competition the court had in mind.
The judge didn’t hold back. In her recent ruling, she slammed Apple for acting in bad faith, saying the company picked “the most anticompetitive option at every turn.” Her response? A sharply worded mandate requiring Apple to open up app experiences more fully, no more controlling how buttons look, no more hidden fees, and no more delay.
Apple Complies, Kind Of
Under pressure, Apple quickly updated its App Store rules. Developers can now include external links and buttons that take users outside the App Store for purchases, without Apple dictating their appearance or taking a cut. Spotify and Patreon wasted no time, already rolling out updates with external purchase options.
Still, Apple isn’t done fighting. While it had to implement the changes right away, it’s appealing the court’s contempt decision, hoping to roll back what it sees as judicial overreach. The company says it “strongly disagrees” with the ruling, though we’ll have to wait for its legal brief to see exactly how it plans to make its case.
What Happens Next?
The legal timeline could stretch for months. Apple will submit its arguments, Epic will respond, and Apple gets a final rebuttal. Oral arguments may follow.
Until then, U.S. developers get a little more freedom in how they sell, at least for now. This case could become a precedent for how Big Tech is forced to play by new rules in a post-monopoly landscape. Apple may have to choose between control and compliance, and so far, it’s clearly leaning toward the former.
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