Apple has successfully appealed a court ruling, delaying mandated changes to its App Store amid its ongoing antitrust lawsuit with Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.
The Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit, filed in August 2020, escalated quickly after Epic modified Fortnite to bypass Apple's in-app payment system. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the iOS App Store, where it has remained unavailable to iOS players since August 13, 2020.
In September 2021, a U.S. judge ordered Apple to revise its App Store rules, which had prohibited developers from directing users to external payment options outside Apple's commission-based system.
A federal appeals court granted Apple's request on Wednesday, suspending the December 9 deadline for compliance. This allows Apple to appeal the lower court's directive requiring it to permit developers to link to alternative payment methods.
Apple stated, "Our concern is that these changes create new privacy and security risks and disrupt the user experience customers value in the App Store." Apple argues its pricing is an industry standard, providing developers with a secure global platform.
The 9th Circuit Court noted, "Apple has demonstrated, at a minimum, that its appeal raises serious questions about the propriety of the district court's decision."
Epic seeks reinstatement on the App Store without using Apple's payment system and is among several critics of Apple's policies. The cases involving Epic and Apple are set for simultaneous trials following Epic's initial antitrust complaint.
Also read: Who created Fortnite? Everything you need to know about its origins
