App Store forced to open: Apple tries to suspend a costly court decision

For the past few days, Apple has allowed developers to integrate links into their apps—in the United States only—leading to online stores. Users can thus purchase virtual items or subscriptions without going through the App Store and without having to pay commissions to Apple. And the apple company can no longer claim its tithe on purchases made through this channel.

This opening of the App Store, which many developers have been demanding for years, is not the result of Apple's goodwill: it is the American justice system that is forcing the company's hand, accused of having violated a previous ruling in the long legal saga against Epic Games.

Apple promised to appeal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' decision, which was done quickly. But this appeal does not suspend the measures to open the App Store to web competition. This is why the company has also launched proceedings to suspend the implementation of two measures: one that requires it to stop charging commissions on payments made via external links in apps; and one that prevents it from restricting the design or placement of these links in apps.

Apple estimates that these changes could cost it considerable sums, the group is talking about a loss of revenue amounting to hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars, no less.

The big problem here is that developers have already taken advantage of this forced and constrained opening. The Kindle app now includes a button to buy books directly from Amazon, and links in the Spotify app to subscribe to the streaming service. If Apple is granted the suspension, the manufacturer will undoubtedly require developers to remove their changes while the appeal is heard. Enough to make them even more furious...

Nevertheless, the court ruling against Apple is such that it seems difficult for the manufacturer to win its case. Judge Rogers accuses Apple of misleading the court, going so far as to say that a vice president lied under oath about the reasons that led to the implementation of a 27% commission on external payments.

Source: CNBC