Apple has encountered another substantial setback in the United States regarding its App Store practices. The tech giant’s 27% commission on transactions conducted outside of its App Store has been entirely prohibited. Furthermore, Apple is required to eliminate the cautionary screens it uses to dissuade users from opting for third-party payment solutions.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, this recent verdict stems from a breach of an injunction granted in 2021, which was part of a legal case initiated by Epic Games. In April, the court determined that, despite permitting alternative payment options, Apple’s continued imposition of hefty commissions was deemed anticompetitive. Subsequently, Apple lodged an urgent appeal against this ruling last month. Nevertheless, the court dismissed Apple’s appeal for a stay of execution. As a result, Apple’s attempt to postpone the implementation of these changes has been unsuccessful. Although Apple is actively appealing the decision, the new regulations are mandated to take effect immediately.
At present, prominent app developers such as Spotify and Amazon have begun updating their applications in accordance with this new regulatory environment. Users will now have the freedom to utilize payment systems beyond the confines of the App Store without restrictions. The long-debated “Apple Tax” is no longer applicable to these apps, marking a significant judicial check on Apple’s stringent policies concerning non-Apple ecosystem payment methods. However, there remains a possibility that the appeals process could yield a different outcome.
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