Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Orders Apple to Implement Court’s Decision on In-App Payment.
Another ruling came against Apple as a Federal Judge ruled that Apple cannot push back the deadline to make changes in its App Store policies.
The ruling comes in to make Apple abide by the earlier California Court’s decision on Apple versus Epic lawsuit. In the California Court ruling, the judge ruled in favor of Epic on Apple’s anti-steering policies about in-app purchases.
The original ruling ordered Apple to amend its App Store policies and do not restrict game developers from showing other means of payments outside Apple’s payment systems. The ruling was final but Apple wanted Court to put the decision on hold until Apple appeals are heard. The pushback could result in years of wait in App Store policies amendments.
The ruling was made back on September 10th this year where the Judge said, “…including in their apps and their metadata buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms, in addition to In-App Purchasing.”
Back in October Apple updated its App Store rules which allowed developers to effectively communicate with their users. However, Apple’s appeal of the Epic lawsuit made the company ask for a stay on the injunction Judge Gonzalez had made.
According to the ruling, the injunction is to be implemented in 90 days. This means that Apple has time until early December. Apple needs to introduce alternative payment options in its iOS apps. Apple is of the view that what Court is making Apple do would result in upsetting the platform.
“They will harm consumers. They will harm developers. That is the fact. It is going to happen,” Mark Perry, lead lawyer for Apple said. Allowing outside links in apps could put iOS security and privacy at grave risk.
Despite the recent ruling, Apple is hoping to get a stay on the injunction, “Apple believes no additional business changes should be required to take effect until all appeals in this case are resolved. We intend to ask the Ninth Circuit for a stay based on these circumstances,” Apple’s spokesperson said.
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