Apple Waives 30% Fee for External Links

• Apple might soon have to eliminate commission fees for external payment options
• The ruling prohibits warning screens and restrictions on developers using alternative payment links
• This decision marks a pivotal moment in the long-running Epic vs. Apple legal battle

Another day, another development in the Epic vs. Apple legal drama we all assumed was settled ages ago. The latest twist could compel Apple to remove its contentious 30% fee on payments processed outside its App Store ecosystem.

How does this affect consumers? Essentially, Apple has clearly lost the original court case with Epic, which began when Fortnite developer Tim Sweeney enabled direct in-app purchases bypassing Apple's system — offering players significant discounts.

While Apple previously eliminated external payment restrictions in the EU, U.S. courts had shown more sympathy toward the tech giant's position.

Under the updated guidelines, Apple must now: Refrain from charging fees on external purchases, allow developers full control over link placement and design, permit money-saving promotions, avoid selective enforcement, remove intimidating warning messages, and use objective language when redirecting users to third-party sites.

Though Epic suffered some setbacks along the way, the company has effectively emerged victorious. Apple intends to appeal (unsurprisingly), but convincing the presiding judges to reverse course appears improbable.

With Epic's mobile storefront expanding across Android and iOS in Europe, plus Android in the U.S., the App Store's dominance on iPhones could gradually decline.