Apple has regained some ground in its high-stakes battle with Epic Games, but the outcome remains far from decisive. A 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals panel largely upheld a contempt ruling from earlier this year, which ordered Apple to pay significant fees for its excessive control over third-party payment systems within the App Store.
However, the judges did reverse an order that prohibited Apple from charging commissions on external payments. This decision effectively reverses one of the company's primary arguments in the ongoing dispute with Epic Games.
To put the situation into context, US Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers initially ruled in 2021 that Apple must allow third-party payment systems within its App Store. While her decision stopped short of labeling Apple's control over the platform a monopoly, it did acknowledge significant concerns about the company's dominance.
In May this year, she further ruled that Apple's 27% commission on external payments was in breach of her previous order. In response, Apple filed an emergency motion to appeal the finding.
Meanwhile, Epic Games had taken its popular game Fortnite off both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store while it pursued these cases. However, Fortnite returned to iOS in the spring, and today it has finally arrived back on Android devices.
However, the judges did reverse an order that prohibited Apple from charging commissions on external payments. This decision effectively reverses one of the company's primary arguments in the ongoing dispute with Epic Games.
To put the situation into context, US Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers initially ruled in 2021 that Apple must allow third-party payment systems within its App Store. While her decision stopped short of labeling Apple's control over the platform a monopoly, it did acknowledge significant concerns about the company's dominance.
In May this year, she further ruled that Apple's 27% commission on external payments was in breach of her previous order. In response, Apple filed an emergency motion to appeal the finding.
Meanwhile, Epic Games had taken its popular game Fortnite off both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store while it pursued these cases. However, Fortnite returned to iOS in the spring, and today it has finally arrived back on Android devices.
. I mean, come on, a 27% commission on external payments is just plain steep 
. Apple's got some serious clout in the gaming world, and it's only fair that Epic Games gets a bigger slice of the pie.
. The whole App Store thing is a complex issue, and you don't want to stifle innovation or small devs just trying to make a buck 
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. It's not perfect, but hey, that's progress right?
and now its all about apple vs epic games again... but i gotta say, i'm a bit salty that the judges didnt go hard on apple 
they were supposed to pay those fees for controlling third-party payments on their app store, but like, whats next? 
anywayz, cant wait 2 c what happens next in dis epic battle 
! The fact that Apple's getting a little more of its way but still got some major fines coming its way is a good vibe for gamers. It's all about finding that balance, right? Like, we need companies like Apple to have control over the platforms they create, but not at the expense of competition and user freedom 
. I'm just glad Fortnite's back on Android, can't wait to get my gaming fix! 
so like epic games was holding out on android for ages and its so satisfying that fortnite is back!!! but at the same time apple still got some benefits from this whole situation lol. they managed to block third-party payment systems which is a huge win for them. but those 9th circuit court judges did give them a slap on the wrist by saying they gotta pay some fees. idk man i just wish epic games would release the game for free already 
It'll be interesting to see how the courts continue to weigh in on this one, but for now, it looks like Apple's still got some 'splainin' to do.
. It's like a big game of tug-of-war 
. Can we just get to the bottom of it already? 
. They wanted Apple to pay up for their control over the App Store, but now that they've got Fortnite back on Android, it seems like they're just trying to shift the blame onto Apple 
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. It's interesting that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals didn't go as far as some people might have hoped, but hey, it's a step in the right direction 
. Still, this case highlights the challenges of holding powerful tech companies accountable for their actions 
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. Can't they just get along? I mean, I know Apple's got some serious control issues when it comes to the App Store, but you'd think a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel would've put their foot down by now 
. but still, this isn't really over yet, so let's keep an eye on what happens next 
. maybe apple will take this as a chance to make some changes and become more fair for developers? only time will tell 
. I get why Epic Games wanted Fortnite back on Android, but now what? Is this gonna lead to more games leaving the App Store and going straight to Google Play or something? And how's that gonna affect users like me who love playing those games on my iPhone 
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. that 27% commission on external payments was a major point of contention between the two companies and its great to see it being addressed.