Meta, Microsoft, Elon Musk’s X, and Match Group on Wednesday, joined Epic Games’ protest against Apple, alleging that the tech giant has failed to comply with a court-ordered injunction regarding payments in its App Store.
These technology companies, known for developing some of the most popular apps in the App Store, asserted that Apple’s actions constituted a “clear violation” of the September 2021 injunction by impeding efforts to direct consumers to more affordable methods of paying for digital content.
Apple declined to provide a specific response to the accusation, as detailed in a filing submitted to the federal court in Oakland, California. However, it referenced its statement from January 16, in which it claimed full compliance with the injunction, aiming to safeguard consumers and “the integrity of Apple’s ecosystem” while ensuring fair treatment for developers.
The legal dispute between Epic and Apple dates back to 2020 when Epic sued Apple, alleging antitrust violations related to its requirement for consumers to acquire apps exclusively through the App Store and its imposition of up to 30% commissions on developers’ purchases.
The injunction issued as part of the litigation mandated that Apple allow developers to offer links and buttons redirecting users to alternative payment options.
Last week, Epic sought to hold Apple in contempt, arguing that new regulations and a newly introduced 27% fee on developers rendered the provided links effectively meaningless. In their filing on Wednesday, the technology companies contended that Apple’s actions effectively reinforced illegal anti-steering policies identified by the court, bolstering Apple’s “excessive” commissions and adversely impacting consumers and developers alike.
The filing further criticized Apple’s restrictions on developers’ communication with users regarding in-app purchasing options, asserting that these constraints erect substantial barriers to competition and artificially inflate prices.
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Apple’s appeal against the injunction and also rejected Epic’s appeal of lower court rulings that found Apple’s policies did not breach federal antitrust laws.
