While Epic might not have handed Apple a resounding defeat in their legal battle against each other, it did result in Apple being forced to make some changes. This includes allowing developers to use alternative payment methods that bypass Apple’s App Store. Apple has since filed a motion to pause the proceedings that would have otherwise determined what fees, if any, could be charged on these purchases outside the App Store. Unfortunately for Apple, the court rejects the pause, much to the delight of Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeny.
Court rejects Apple motion for pause in Epic Games fight
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers turned down Apple’s request this week. Sweeney shared the news on X that the judge denied Apple’s motion. That means Apple now has just 24 hours to hand over its proposed fee for purchases made outside the App Store, along with the math and evidence behind it.
Epic pushed hard against the pause. The company argued the proceedings should move forward no matter what the Supreme Court eventually decides. Epic even pointed out that Apple already agreed to submit its fee proposal within 24 hours if the court denied the pause. So that clock is already ticking.
Apple tried a different angle too. It pointed to another Northern District of California case that a judge paused for similar reasons. Unfortunately for the Cupertino company, that argument didn’t work here either.
So, why did Apple request a pause?
It might seem strange that Apple requested a pause. After all, this would essentially allow the case to proceed and reach a conclusion. However, the company is appealing a contempt ruling, the one where the court called out Apple for charging a 27% fee on purchases made through links outside the App Store, even after the court told it to allow those links. That appeal is now headed to the Supreme Court.
According to Apple, it argued that if the Supreme Court sides with it, all the work put into these lower court fee proceedings could end up being pointless. Basically, why hash out fee details now if the whole legal foundation might get overturned later, right?
However, it seems that the judge didn’t buy the company’s argument. She’s letting the fee fight continue while the bigger appeal plays out separately. Now Apple has to reveal exactly what it wants to charge, and soon.
The post Judge Denies Apple’s Attempt to Delay App Store Fee Proceedings in Epic Case appeared first on Android Headlines.
​Â
