
The court has recently denied Apple’s request to suspend the enforcement of a ruling that allows users to navigate to external websites for purchases via in-app links, deeming the request inappropriate upon review.
Presiding Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated that although Apple had been ordered—following Epic Games’ 2021 lawsuit—to permit users to make in-app purchases through third-party payment methods, the company continued to impose a commission of up to 27% for transactions conducted using its platform resources. Furthermore, Apple displayed warning prompts suggesting potential risks associated with transactions made outside the App Store, which the court viewed as “intimidation.” These actions, the judge concluded, amounted to a failure to fully comply with the court’s prior ruling.
In addition to denying Apple’s motion, Judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered the company to immediately cease imposing additional fees on in-app links directing users to external websites within the United States. She further prohibited Apple from instituting alternative rules to collect such fees or from restricting developers from placing external payment buttons or links within their apps.
Responding to the ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney declared that the so-called “Apple tax,” which has long impacted developers’ rights and revenue, has finally come to an end. Apple has yet to issue a formal response, though it may address the matter during the upcoming WWDC 2025.
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
In an effort to highlight the economic impact of its platform, Apple recently emphasized that the App Store has blocked over $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the past five years. Citing recent research, the company also noted that the App Store facilitated $1.3 trillion in global developer revenue and sales in 2024 alone.