Court Denies Apple's Stay Request on App Store Payment Ruling

A US court has denied Apple's request to pause a ruling requiring the company to allow developers to use alternative payment methods within their apps. This decision prevents Apple from charging developers fees for payments processed outside the App Store via in-app links.

The court stated it was "not persuaded that a stay is appropriate" after reviewing Apple's arguments. This ruling represents a potential loss of revenue for Apple.

Epic Games CEO Celebrates the Decision

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the ruling on X (formerly Twitter), calling it the end of a "long national nightmare." He expressed hope that Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) would be a "celebration of freedom" for developers and users.

Apple’s stay is denied by the 9th Circuit Court. The long national nightmare of the Apple tax is ended.

May next week’s WWDC be the Apple-led celebration of freedom that developers and users have long deserved. pic.twitter.com/f0A3IAVKNC

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) June 4, 2025

Background of the Ruling

In April, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled against Apple, stating the company was in "willful violation" of a 2021 injunction. This ruling mandated Apple change its App Store rules to allow developers to link directly to their websites for digital purchases.

Apple subsequently filed an emergency motion for a stay and an appeal against the ruling. Previously, Apple allowed external payment links but still imposed a 27% fee and added what some considered "scare screens." This new ruling eliminates both practices.

Impact on Major Companies

Companies like Spotify and Amazon have already updated their apps to allow users to make purchases outside the App Store. This shift comes shortly after Apple reported generating $1.3 trillion in billings and sales in 2024, with 90% of those sales not generating commission revenue for Apple. The court's decision to deny the stay represents a significant development ahead of Apple's WWDC next week.