Judge issues permanent injunction on App Store model in Epic v. Apple case

The judge in the case between Apple and Epic Games has issued a permanent injunction against Apple. The company must allow developers to direct users to other payment systems, which would let them bypass the 30 percent cut of in-app payments Apple takes. Engadget has contacted Apple and Epic Games for comment.

Judge Gonzales Rogers ruled in Epic's favor on one count. She determined that Apple violated California's Unfair Competition law, leading to the injunction, which is set to take effect in 90 days.

Under the injunction, Apple is "permanently restrained and enjoined" from preventing developers to include in their apps and metadata "buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms, in addition to In-App Purchasing." Apple also may not stop developers from "communicating with customers through points of contact obtained voluntarily from customers through account registration within the app."

On every other count, Judge Gonzales Rogers ruled in Apple's favor. She also ruled against Epic in Apple's counterclaim for breach of contract. As such, Epic must pay Apple $3.65 million. That's equivalent to 30 percent of the $12,167,719 Epic earned from Fortnite iOS players between August and October 2020 through the Epic Direct Payment System. Epic also has to pay Apple 30 percent of the revenue it received via that system between November 1st and today.

Offering an alternative payment system was at the heart of Epic's case against Apple. The former kicked off the legal fight in August 2020, when it informed Fortnite players on iOS and Android that they would receive a discount on in-game goods if they bypassed Apple and Google's payment systems. Both OS makers removed Fortnite from their app stores, and Epic sued them both. The Apple case went to trial in May.

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