Apple is making a final attempt to overturn a ruling that would require the company to open up its App Store to third-party payments. Apple filed a petition with the Supreme Court arguing that the lower court injunction was unconstitutional and overly broad. This ongoing feud between Apple and Fortnite developer Epic has led both parties to seek Supreme Court intervention in reversing parts of the lower court’s ruling. If the Supreme Court agrees to take the case, it could have significant implications for all developers, as it would challenge the App Store’s control over in-app payments.
Apple’s petition specifically requests the Supreme Court to reverse an injunction that would force the company to allow developers to offer payment options that bypass the App Store and its associated fees. This rule, known as the “anti-steering” policy, has long been contentious, as it prohibits developers from providing links to external payment options or informing customers of cheaper alternatives. Epic Games brought this issue to the forefront in its antitrust lawsuit against Apple, which led to the judge ruling in favor of Epic in 2021. Apple has been actively fighting against this part of the ruling for the past two years.
Simultaneously, Epic Games has also requested the Supreme Court to reconsider another aspect of the lower court’s ruling in its own attempt to maintain its antitrust claims against Apple. The outcome of these petitions and the Supreme Court’s decision to take up the case could have far-reaching consequences for the App Store’s business model and the control it exercises over in-app payments.