Apple won’t have to let apps use third party billing systems just yet

In case you’re not caught up on the Apple vs Epic Games cage match, here’s a refresher. And here’s some additional information.

What’s relevant to the here and now is that Judge Yvonne Gonzales of the District Court for the Northern District of California ruled a couple of months ago that the South Californian tech giant had until today (9 December) to allow app developers to utilise third-party billing options for in-app purchases rather than Apple’s in house version. This would allow them to skirt the now infamous 15% to 30% cut the App Store (and Google’s Play Store) takes on IAPs. 

Apple requested a delay, arguing that the changes required for such a venture were too complicated for the set deadline. Judge Gonzales initially denied this request, but the company appealed the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, who granted it its stay of execution.

Apple gets its wish

As it stands, until the appeal is settled in full, Apple doesn’t have to change the way the App Store operates. This could take a few months so, practically speaking, it’s business as usual for now.

You can read the full appeal over at 9to5Mac, but here are the main points minus the confusing attorney-speak: 

“Apple, Inc. has moved to stay, in part, the district court’s September 10, 2021, permanent injunction pending appeal. Apple’s motion is granted.

“Apple has demonstrated, at minimum, that its appeal raises serious questions on the merits of the district court’s determination that Epic Games, Inc. failed to show Apple’s conduct violated any antitrust laws but did show that the same conduct violated California’s Unfair Competition Law. 

“Apple has also made a sufficient showing of irreparable harm… and that the remaining factors weigh in favor of staying part (i) of the injunction and maintaining the status quo pending appeal. 

“Therefore, we grant Apple’s motion to stay part (i) of paragraph (1) of the permanent injunction. The stay will remain in effect until the mandate issues in this appeal. The existing briefing schedule remains in place.”