- US judge rules Apple violated an antitrust injunction in its legal battle with Epic Games, freeing crypto app developers from App Store restrictions.
- Apple must immediately stop charging commissions on external purchases and cannot restrict how developers implement external payment links.
- Crypto industry participants view the ruling as highly beneficial for mobile crypto games and applications.
A US district judge has ruled that Apple violated a 2021 antitrust injunction, allowing cryptocurrency app developers to direct users to external payment options without facing Apple’s fees or restrictions. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers declared on April 30 that "Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated," according to court documents.
The ruling requires immediate implementation, with Judge Rogers emphasizing, "This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party willfully disregards a court order. Time is of the essence." Apple must cease imposing fees on purchases made outside their ecosystem and cannot monitor, audit, or require developers to report external transactions.
Key Changes for Crypto Developers
The court specified that Apple cannot control how developers implement links directing users to external payment options. Additionally, the company cannot exclude "certain categories of apps and developers from obtaining link access," a significant change for cryptocurrency applications.
Following the ruling, Apple updated its guidelines, with Ariel Michaeli, co-founder and CEO of Appfigures, noting that apps can now link to external NFT collections and payment systems without requiring special entitlements.
Industry Reaction and Implications
The cryptocurrency community has responded positively to the ruling. Crypto commentator "Xero" told their 50,000 X followers that the decision is "hugely bullish for mobile crypto games and apps," while Alex Masmej described it as "absolutely huge for crypto."
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games which initiated the legal battle against Apple, announced plans to relaunch Fortnite on the US Apple App Store. Sweeney proposed a "peace proposal," suggesting that if Apple extends the court’s framework worldwide, Epic would return Fortnite globally and drop current and future litigation on the matter.
This ruling marks a significant shift after previous legal setbacks, including when Justice Elena Kagan declined to let a federal appeals court decision take immediate effect in August 2023.
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