Apple Urges US Court to Undo Antitrust Order on App Store

The order, issued in 2021 by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, found that Apple had violated California state law by requiring app developers to use its in-app payment system, which charges a 30% commission. The order allowed developers to offer alternative payment methods, but it did not require Apple to change its own payment system.

Apple appealed the order to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld most of it in April. However, the appeals court said that the lower court had gone too far in issuing a nationwide injunction against Apple. The appeals court said that the injunction should only apply to developers who had already brought antitrust claims against Apple.

Apple has now asked the Supreme Court to take up its appeal. In a court filing on Monday, Apple's attorneys said that the 9th Circuit's ruling "raised far-reaching and important questions about the power of judges to issue broad injunctions."

Apple's attorneys also argued that the lower court's order was "unnecessary" because Apple has already made changes to its App Store policies. In December 2021, Apple announced that it would allow developers to offer alternative payment methods for "reader apps," which are apps that primarily sell digital content.

Epic Games, the maker of the popular video game Fortnite, has also appealed the 9th Circuit's ruling. Epic Games has argued that the lower court's order was necessary to protect competition in the app market.

The Supreme Court has not yet said whether it will hear Apple's appeal. If the Supreme Court does hear the case, it could have a significant impact on the app market. The court's ruling could determine whether Apple is required to change its payment practices in the App Store, and it could also set a precedent for other antitrust cases involving tech giants.