Meta Platforms, Microsoft, X (Elon Musk's company), and Match Group have joined Epic Games' protest against Apple's alleged failure to comply with a court-ordered injunction regarding payments in the App Store. These tech companies, responsible for creating some of the most popular apps in the store, accuse Apple of being in "clear violation" of the injunction issued in September 2021. They claim that Apple's actions make it challenging for consumers to access cheaper payment methods for digital content.
According to a Reuters report, Apple declined to comment directly on the matter. Instead, the iPhone maker referred to its statement from January 16, where it asserted full compliance with the injunction. Apple maintains that this compliance safeguards consumers and the integrity of its ecosystem while ensuring developers are not taking advantage.
The legal dispute between Epic and Apple began in 2020 when Epic sued Apple, alleging antitrust violations related to app distribution and the 30 per cent commission charged to developers. As part of the injunction, Apple was required to allow developers to provide links and buttons that lead consumers to alternative payment options.
Epic Games Accuses Apple's Actions Of Reinforcing Unlawful Anti-Steering Regulations
Last week, Epic filed a demand for Apple to be held in contempt, citing new regulations and a 27 per cent fee imposed on developers that rendered the provided links virtually ineffective.
In their filing on Wednesday, the tech companies argued that Apple's actions effectively reinforced anti-steering regulations that the court had previously deemed unlawful. They claimed that these actions support Apple's "excessive" commissions, which negatively impact both consumers and developers.
The filing read, “Apple’s restrictions on where and how developers can communicate with their users about their options for purchasing in-app content create significant barriers to competition and artificially inflate prices.”
In January, the US Supreme Court declined to review Apple's appeal regarding the injunction. It also opted not to review Epic's appeal of the lower court's ruling that Apple's policies did not breach federal antitrust laws.