The court order that cracked open the US App Store is here to stay, it seems.
Apple had requested a delay to the landmark ruling that removes all previous restrictions on web payments and in-app messaging in the US App Store. That request has been officially denied.
Epic boss Tim Sweeney was among the first to post about the news on X: “Apple’s stay is denied by the 9th Circuit Court. The long national nightmare of the Apple tax is ended”
“May next week’s WWDC be the Apple-led celebration of freedom that developers and users have long deserved.”
Apple had previously requested a delay a week after the landmark US App Store ruling was announced. The tech giant appeared to use the motion as a reason to delay the launch of Fortnite on the App Store, which now features the web-based payments Epic had been fighting for. But after a further court order, Apple relented.
“After reviewing the relevant factors, we are not persuaded that a stay is appropriate,” says today’s court ruling.
An Apple spokesperson told The Verge: “We are disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court’s order, and we’ll continue to argue our case during the appeals process.”
“As we’ve said before, we strongly disagree with the district court’s opinion. Our goal is to ensure the App Store remains an incredible opportunity for developers and a safe and trusted experience for our users.”
