Yavon Gonzalez Rogers, an American District Judge, today ruled that, immediately, Apple is no longer allowed to impose tax on the external payment link within the App Store title nor can it ban how they appear inside the apps.
The decision came out of Apple vs. Epic Games Legal Disputes for a long time, which has now been going on for more than four years. While the decision of one was in favor of Apple, the latest one is not only a win for the epic, but all developers are looking to distribute their apps within the US iOS app store and do not want to pay Apple to use their payment system.
As part of this latest decision, Apple can no longer levy any commission or purchase that consumers pay outside an app. It cannot restrict the placement of the link for the development of developers, or to purchase outside of an app, nor can it block or limit the use of button or other calls. Apple also cannot interfere with the choice of consumers to leave an app to leave an app beyond a neutral message, stating users that they are visiting a third-party site.
It did not help in the case of Apple that the company’s VP, Alex Roman, was found to be lying under the oath, and the company’s CEO Tim Cook deliberately advocated the court’s original 2021 verdict and advocated to suggest otherwise to Apple’s partner Phil Sillor.
Apple has replied to the decision that “we disagree strongly with the decision. We will follow the court order and we will appeal.”
Originally, Apple needs developers to distribute their apps through their app store to force all users to use their payment system of Apple for any purchase made within the app. With the purchase of the app, any in-app purchase was taxed at 30% of the total purchase amount, which was kept by Apple in the pocket. Developers were prevented from being linked to external procurement pages within their apps or even indicated on such pages, and when the decision later prevented the company from doing the company that it resorts to a user every time to intimidate the strategy to try to click on the external payment link. And even external payment was subject to 27% tax.
EPIC-and also Spotify, who have their own run-in statements on similar matters-have issued statements that they are happy with this decision and will immediately update their apps.
