App Store remains closed for other payment methods

According to the latest decision, Apple will not be obliged to open the App Store, which means that the developers of iOS and iPad applications will still not direct users to alternative payment methods.

Apple won a last-minute lawsuit in a lawsuit filed by Epic Games.

The problem arose when the creator of the popular game Fortnite asked for alternative payment methods for his applications in the Apple store.

The court decision on September 10 was completely different, so on that occasion, Apple was ordered to enable the linking of other payment methods in iOS and iPad applications.

Epic's victory was annulled after three months, at the last minute - the deadline for the implementation of the required changes was December 9. Apple's appeal has thus borne fruit, but that does not mean that the decision is final. Apple will be able to avoid payment methods from other companies until the complaint analysis is completed, which will take several months.

The complaint states that it is not possible to introduce other payment methods by the requested deadline since such an endeavor requires serious effort. Delaying, in the end, does not mean that the company is forever released from the obligation to do what is required of it, and thus provide an opportunity for others to earn something.

Apple clashed with regulatory bodies in Russia a few months ago, for the same reason. Russian laws that prevent the dominance of large companies require iOS developers to inform users about alternative payment methods within the application. The conditions were supposed to be met by the end of September, but the company instead asked for a revision of the request. Because it did not fulfill what was required, the Russian Federal Office against Monopolies (FAS) launched a new process that should make it operate according to the laws of that country. https://youtu.be/Tb-qLZuMWdU

The problem, as in the case of Epic Games, arose because the payment methods in iOS apps were controversial, as developers were asked not to include other companies' payment systems. Thanks to that, Apple in many cases gets 30% of every sale.