Apple has asked the U.S. District Court in Northern California to pause the enforcement of new App Store rules following its recent loss to Epic Games.
In a motion filed this week, Apple requested a stay on the court’s injunction, which currently requires the company to allow developers to link to alternative payment methods in their apps.
The court order stems from a years-long legal battle with Epic Games, which began after the Fortnite developer challenged Apple’s App Store business model. While the court sided with Apple on most counts, it ruled that the company’s anti-steering provisions — which prevent developers from informing users about cheaper payment options outside the App Store — violate California’s Unfair Competition Law.
Apple responded to the ruling by saying that it would comply with the injunction but appeal the decision. The appeal was filed earlier this week. If the stay is granted, Apple would be allowed to maintain its current App Store policies until the court decides the fate of Apple’s appeal.
A number of high profile apps including Kindle, Patreon, and Spotify have already adapted their apps to take advantage of the new App Store rules in the United States that allow linking to out-of-app payment methods.
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