Crypto app developers can now guide users to make payments outside of Apple’s ecosystem without worrying about strict rules or high fees. The decision comes after a U.S. district judge ruled that the firm broke a court order in its ongoing antitrust case with Epic Games.
The Court found Apple knowingly violated the 2021 Injunction. Therefore, the order was issued to prohibit the company from engaging in unfair business practices and anticompetitive prices.
On Apr. 30, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple’s ongoing attempts to disrupt fair competition will not be tolerated. Furthermore, Rogers added,
Effective immediately, Apple will no longer impede developers’ ability to communicate with users, nor will they levy or impose a new commission on off-app purchases.
Apple loses in-app payment control
Rogers emphasized that this is a court order, not a negotiation. Once someone deliberately ignores it, there’s no going back. Time is crucial.
The ruling stated that Apple can’t charge any commission or fees on purchases made by customers outside an app. Additionally, it clarified that there is no reason to audit, monitor, track, or require developers to report any purchases or other activities made outside an app.
A ruling has decided that the firm can’t control how developers design or place links that lead users to make purchases outside of the app. Further, the court doesn’t allow Apple to block certain types of apps or developers from accessing these links.
Following the court ruling, multiple crypto industry leaders noticed that Apple had updated its guidelines. Some even suggested that the tone of these changes hinted at Apple’s dissatisfaction with the ruling.
Michaeli said that Apple’s update now allows apps to link to external NFT collections, connect to external websites without needing special permissions, and, in addition, integrate with external payment systems without approval.
