Overview

• Apple filed an appeal with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court to overturn a ruling requiring changes to its App Store policies, including the removal of external payment commissions.
• The appeal follows a contempt finding by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who accused Apple of willfully violating a 2021 injunction and referred an executive for possible criminal investigation.
• In compliance with the court order, Apple updated its U.S. App Store rules on May 1 to allow developers to include external payment links without restrictions or fees.
• Developers, including Spotify, have quickly integrated external payment options into their apps, while others, like Pure Sweat Basketball, have filed lawsuits seeking to recover past commissions.
• The ruling, part of the broader Epic Games antitrust case, marks a significant challenge to Apple’s control over its App Store revenue model, with further legal battles expected.