In the latest development of the ongoing Epic vs Apple saga, a significant ruling may force Apple to eliminate its controversial 30% commission on external payment links. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the legal battle that began when Epic Games allowed Fortnite players to make in-app purchases directly, bypassing Apple's payment system at a discounted rate.
What does this mean for consumers and developers? Essentially, Apple has been decisively ruled against in the original Epic vs Apple case. Previously, the company had to remove fees and restrictions on external linking in the EU, but rulings in the US had been more favorable to Apple until now.
Under the new ruling, Apple is prohibited from:
- Charging fees on purchases made outside of their apps
- Restricting developers' ability to place or format external links
- Limiting the use of 'calls to action' that inform users of potential savings
- Excluding certain apps or developers from these policies
- Using 'scare screens' to deter users from choosing external payment options
- Apple must now use 'neutral messaging' to inform users they are navigating to a third-party site
While Epic Games may have lost some individual battles, this ruling suggests they have largely won the war. Apple is set to appeal the decision, but overturning such a ruling seems unlikely given the current judicial stance.
With the Epic Games Store for mobile gaining traction on Android and iOS in the EU, and on Android in the US, the significance of the iOS App Store could diminish over time. This shift may herald a new era for app distribution and payment options on mobile devices.
