The US Supreme Court allowed Apple to keep its payment rules in the Apple Store

The US Supreme Court has denied a request by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, to force Apple to relax its payment rules in the Apple Store, writes The Verge.

The dispute between the companies began after Epic Games tried to offer users an alternative payment method. In doing so, the publisher tried to avoid the commission Apple charges for purchases in its App Store. As a result, Apple removed Fortnite from the Apple Store.

Epic Games ultimately appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The company argued that Apple violated California’s unfair competition law by prohibiting developers from using links to redirect users to payment methods outside the App Store.

The court sided with Epic Games in one of the publisher’s few victories. However, the same court stayed part of its decision and gave Apple 90 days to petition the Supreme Court.

Epic urged the Supreme Court to overturn the Ninth Circuit’s decision, saying it “will harm not only Epic, but countless consumers and other app developers for a significant period of time.”

However, the Supreme Court judge refused to lift the stay on the lower court’s decision. Although she did not provide an explanation for her decision, the court’s website states that Epic’s petition was denied.

By the way, Apple previously stated that its “ecosystem” App Store according to the results of 2022 brought developers $1.1 trillion.