The year-long Apple versus Epic case instituted at a California court has been concluded with the Judge making a couple of important rulings. Judge Yvonne G. Rogers has issued a permanent injunction that restricts Apple from enforcing some of its previous restrictions as it relates to in-app purchases in the App Store.
According to the court papers released, Judge Rogers stated that Apple is permanently restrained and enjoined from prohibiting developers from including in their apps external links that direct users to purchasing mechanisms, communicating with customers through points of contacts obtained voluntarily from the app. In simple terms, however, this means that going forward, iOS apps must now be allowed to direct customers to payment options outside those offered by Apple. Pending no appeal, the ruling will come into force within 90 days (December 9).
However, Apple seems to have avoided any damages over the substantive issue which was also decided upon by the court. The court ruled that Epic Games breached its contract with Apple when it unilaterally implemented the alternative payment system in the Fortnite game app. Epic was therefore directed to pay Apple 30 percent of all revenue collected through the system before Apple pulled the game from its store in August 2020. Apple will therefore receive $3.5 million from Epic.
While Apple has put a statement in support of the decision, Epic could be preparing an appeal of the ruling in a higher court, as it is unsatisfied with the decision. The court failed to support the deputation by Epic, the plaintiff, that Apple was monopolistic, although it reflected that Apple is engaging in anticompetitive conduct under California’s competition laws. Apple says it remains committed to ensuring the App Store is a safe and trusted marketplace.
Apple had come under closer regulatory scrutiny after the case was filed by Epic in August 2020. It is already under some form of restrictions notably from Japan and South Korea, and the new ruling will further keep the company and its marketplace practices in the spotlight.
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(source)
