Epic Games accuses Apple of ignoring court order by charging for external links in iOS apps

Epic Games is accusing Apple of failing to comply with a 2021 court ruling that allowed developers to circumvent Apple's 30 per cent commission on in-app payments. After the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the ruling, Apple issued revised guidelines forcing developers to apply for an "entitlement" while still offering the option to purchase through Apple's own payment system.

Apple also continued to charge a 27% commission on any sales made through links to external payment systems (or 12% for Small Business Programme members for iOS). Epic claims that these fees are "essentially the same" as those it charges using its own in-app payment system.

Epic Games is accusing Apple of failing to comply with the ruling, believing that the fees make the links "commercially unsuitable". The company also claimed that Apple requires a "simple button style" for external links that "is not a button at all" and violates the ban on "directing" users to alternative payment "buttons, external links, or other calls to action". Epic Games added that Apple violated the injunction in a third way by prohibiting multiplatform apps such as Minecraft from displaying external payment links.

Apple previously said it had complied with the injunction with new rules that allow alternative payment methods or links in apps, as well as allowing developers to "communicate with customers through touchpoints voluntarily obtained from customers through in-app account registration".

Source: SCRIBD