Apple’s App Store Battle Continues: Court Lets Epic Move Forward

Epic Games won a new court battle that keeps the fight over Apple’s App Store rules alive. A U. S. appeals court in California said it would not pause a decision that forces Apple to loosen restrictions on how developers can accept payments outside the App Store. The move means Epic can keep pushing Apple to change its fee structure while both sides prepare for a possible Supreme Court review. The case began when Apple asked the court to hold off on the ruling that requires it to lower fees for alternative payment methods. Apple claimed this pause would prevent needless court work while the matter moves up to the highest court. Epic disagreed, arguing Apple had no real need for a delay and that the Supreme Court would still have to deal with lower‑court issues if it decided to take the case.Epic filed two new requests: one saying it didn’t have enough time to respond properly to Apple’s pause request, and another asking the court to deny Apple’s stay entirely. The appeals panel listened closely to Epic’s points that Apple had not shown a strong chance of winning in the Supreme Court and that keeping the stay would only stall progress. The court’s latest decision states Apple failed to prove that it would suffer serious harm if the ruling stayed. Even if the Supreme Court sides with Apple, lower‑court proceedings on commission fees would likely continue unchanged. Therefore, the court ruled that Apple did not meet the strict criteria for a stay under federal appellate rules. Epic’s leaders have criticized Apple’s “junk fees” as harmful to both users and developers, claiming the practice is illegal. They have asked Apple for a comment and promise to update the public if they receive one.