Apple must continue allowing developers to bypass commissions
Apple must continue to allow apps to link out and avoid its App Store commission during its appeal against an injunction resulting from the Epic anti-steering ruling.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple willfully violated an injunction against its anti-steering practices in the Epic vs Apple case. Even though Apple was compelled to remove its anti-steering rules, the new rules were too aggressive for developers to bother supporting.
According to a report from Reuters, Apple’s request to pause enforcement of the judge’s ruling during appeals failed. The U.S. appeals court denied Apple’s request, where it shared that “we strongly disagree.”
Several apps like Spotify have taken advantage of this new ruling, which allows companies to freely link out to websites with alternative payment options. It also means those companies owe Apple zero commission on those sales.
Epic Games has been treating the ruling as a victory for the company, even if it still isn’t quite what the company wanted. It can’t run its own app store on iPhone, but at least it can run Fortnite on iPhone with links out to V-Bucks purchases.
Apple’s services revenue could take a hit, but it remains to be seen how many users will actually take advantage of the external links when in-app purchase is still an option. Customers could become confused by being pulled out of an app or game and suddenly asked to fill out a payment form.
With WWDC 2025 in starting Monday, it is not a great time for Apple’s public image to developers. It is going to make announcements and proclamations around how much it supports the community while simultaneously trying to combat them in courts.
