Apple (principally) loses its enchantment in Epic Video games case

Apple has clawed again a little bit of floor in its authorized struggle with Epic Video games that might have wide-reaching penalties for all app builders. Right now, the ninth U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals principally upheld a earlier contempt ruling concerning charges Apple levied on third-party fee programs. Nonetheless, the judges did determine to reverse the order that Apple can’t cost any commissions on these exterior funds, which was one of many firm’s primary arguments on this ongoing debate.

To catch you up, US Decide Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers initially dominated in 2021 that Apple should enable third-party fee programs, though her choice fell shy of calling the tech firm’s management over the App Retailer a monopoly. In May 2025, she dominated that Apple’s 27 p.c fee on these outdoors funds violated her earlier order. Apple responded with an emergency motion to enchantment that discovering.

Epic Video games had taken its smash hit Fortnite off each the Apple App Retailer and Google Play Retailer whereas it was in court docket arguing these circumstances. Fortnite returned to iOS within the spring and simply arrived again on Android units at the moment.