A U.S. district judge has ruled that U.S. tech giant Apple was breaking a 2021 court order by unfairly controlling payment apps, including cryptocurrency apps, by putting restrictions or levying hefty fees for any payment outside Apple’s ecosystem.
The judge has stated that Apple can’t force apps to use its payment system or charge high fees up to 30% for in-app purchases.
This decision is a big win for cryptocurrency apps, which can now let users pay through external systems without Apple’s fees or rules. The change makes it cheaper and easier for these apps to offer services like crypto trading or buying NFTs, helping them grow and compete.
The judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple was willfully violating this rule due to its antitrust battle with Epic Games, accusing the tech giant of anticompetitive practices.
As per the reports, the court ordered Apple to immediately stop blocking developers from directing users to external payment systems and to cease charging commissions on off-app purchases.
“This is an injunction, not a negotiation,” Rogers stated in the filing, emphasizing that Apple cannot monitor or track external purchases or restrict developers’ links to outside payment platforms. The ruling also prevents Apple from excluding certain apps or developers from using these links, ensuring broader access.
The company has updated its App Store after the court ruled against it. According to CEO Ariel Michaeli, the company has revised its policies. The new rules allow apps to link to outside payment systems and NFT collections without restrictions or Apple’s usual fees.
Also Read: South Korea Bans 14 Unregistered Crypto Apps on Apple Store
