On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court denied Epic Games' request for an injunction against Apple's stringent App Store payment rules. This decision means that Apple can continue to enforce its current App Store policies, including restrictions on alternate payment methods for in-app purchases.
Epic Games, the publisher of the popular video game Fortnite, had sought changes to Apple's App Store practices. Apple only allows purchases and in-app transactions for apps listed on the App Store to be processed through Apple Pay, imposing a 30 percent commission fee on these transactions.
Apple has faced criticism for its App Store policies, particularly from Web3 developers, who have felt that the rules suppress their ability to operate on the platform. Apple has defended these policies as a way to protect users from financial risks associated with cryptocurrencies and NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Epic Games wanted the Supreme Court to lift a decision from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which delayed implementing an injunction by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers that would have affected certain App Store rules. Epic Games aimed to enable its users to invest in in-game assets through online payment apps outside of the Apple ecosystem, avoiding the 30 percent fee Apple charges on purchases.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals had previously upheld a ruling that found Apple's policies violated California's competition laws by forcing users to use only its payment platform for in-app purchases. The court concluded that these policies harmed both app developers' businesses and user engagement on the apps.
Apple has also faced challenges related to Web3 apps, with conflicts arising over app violations of App Store policies. In contrast, Google has updated its Play Store policy to allow video game publishers to facilitate the sale of NFTs within its store, reflecting a different approach to digital assets.
