Apple is making a last-ditch effort to reach the Supreme Court back a failure that would force it to open its App Store to third-party payments. The iPhone manufacturer presented a request with the Court on Thursday, arguing that the lower court’s injunction was “shockingly broad” and “unconstitutional.”
It is the latest step in a dispute between Cupertino and the fortnite developer that has seen both sides ask the Supreme Court to overturn parts of a lower court ruling. But Apple’s latest petition could have far-reaching consequences for all developers, should the Supreme Court decide to take up the case.
That’s because Apple is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a court order that would require the company to allow app developers to offer payments that bypass its App Store and the fees associated with it. Such a move would be a blow to the App Store business, which has used the rule to maintain tight control over in-app payments.
The rule, often called an “anti-steering” policy, has long been controversial and a major complaint for developers. Not only does it prohibit app makers from providing links to web-based payments, it prevents them from even telling their customers that a cheaper rate is available elsewhere.
fortnite Developer Epic made the issue a central part of its antitrust lawsuit against Apple in 2020, and the judge in the case ruled in Epic’s favor on the issue. Apple has spent the last two years fighting that part of the ruling.
Separately, Epic also asked the Supreme Court for part of the lower court’s ruling in its attempt to keep its antitrust claims against Apple alive.
