Apple Appeals App Store Ruling in Epic Case

Apple has pushed back against a new court order that reshaped its App Store rules, calling the changes unconstitutional and an overreach. The company filed a fresh appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that it should not be forced to allow free external links for app purchases without any control or compensation.

The Backdrop: From 2021 to 2025

The Apple vs. Epic Games fight started in 2021, when a judge ordered Apple to let developers add in-app links that direct users to third‑party payment options. Apple delayed those changes until 2024 and, once implemented, added a 12% to 27% commission on purchases made through those links.

Epic argued that Apple’s move violated the “spirit” of the original order. In April 2025, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers agreed, saying Apple acted in willful violation. The court expanded the injunction, requiring Apple to allow link‑outs with zero fees and no control over link design, a major win for Epic and other developers.

Apple’s New Appeal

In its latest filing, Apple says the April injunction goes too far. The company argues it complied with the original order and that the court improperly rewrote the rules instead of enforcing them. Apple makes several key points:

• First Amendment rights: Apple claims the injunction unlawfully dictates what messages it can display to users and how links should appear in apps.
• Intellectual property: The company says it is being stripped of its right to be compensated for technologies and services that developers rely on.
• Overreach: Apple argues that the expanded injunction benefits companies like Spotify and Amazon, which have nothing to do with Epic’s case.
• Legal precedent: Citing a recent Supreme Court decision, Apple says courts should not impose universal rules that apply beyond the actual plaintiff, in this case, Epic.

What’s at Stake

If Apple’s appeal succeeds, it could reintroduce commissions on external links, reshaping how developers approach in‑app purchases. If it fails, the ruling could permanently weaken Apple’s control over its App Store ecosystem. Beyond this case, the outcome may set the tone for how much power tech giants can hold over digital marketplaces in the future.

For now, Apple remains bound by the current rules: all developers in the U.S. can add external links without restrictions and without paying fees. But the next ruling from the Ninth Circuit could change that balance once again.