According to Apple regulation, all apps should use Apple’s in-app payment options. But Epic Games had challenged the up-to-30% fees that Apple takes from purchases is unfair. They argued that the App Store was monopolistic.
Recently a court in Oakland, California, has ruled that Apple cannot stop third-party payment options. App developers can use these payment options to get paid directly from users. However, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers ruled that “the court cannot ultimately conclude that Apple is a monopolist”.
The judge also issued a permanent injunction. The court stated that Apple could no longer prohibit developers from linking to their purchasing mechanisms. Without using Apple’s in-app purchasing mechanism, a user will now be able to purchase any service through the website of any service platform.
Judge Yvonne Gonzales-Rogers said, “Apple enjoys a considerable market share of over 55% and extraordinarily high-profit margins. These factors alone do not show antitrust conduct. Success is not illegal.”
A spokesperson for Apple said: “Today the Court has affirmed what we’ve known all along: the App Store is not in violation of antitrust law. Apple faces rigorous competition in every segment in which we do business, and we believe customers and developers choose us because our products and services are the best in the world.”