Apple's request to suspend antitrust enforcement against the App Store is rejected

Apple has been sued by Epic Games for violating antitrust laws on its iPhone app store, the App Store, and is being asked to lift restrictions on the App Store. Apple had sought a temporary injunction against the court's decision to lift the restrictions, but it has been reported that the request has been denied.

Apple loses bid to pause app store reform order in Epic Games case | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/apple-loses-bid-pause-app-store-reform-order-epic-games-case-2025-06-04/

Apple ordered to keep web links in the App Store | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/679946/apple-rejected-court-attempt-to-stop-app-store-web-links

Epic Games: Apple's attempt to pause App Store antitrust order fails - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/04/apple-loses-bid-to-pause-app-store-antitrust-order/

Epic Games sued Apple in 2020, alleging that the fees charged by Apple on the App Store were too high. The lawsuit resulted in a ruling that the App Store must accept payment methods other than Apple's.

However, after Apple repeatedly failed to comply with the rules, the court gave Apple more clarity on how to open up the App Store. Judge Vonne Gonzales Rogers, who oversaw the case between Apple and Epic Games, ordered Apple to allow web links to appear on the App Store, remove restrictions on link format, and allow developers to offer external payment options without giving a cut of revenue to Apple.

Court rules against Apple forbidding 'imposing fees on out-of-app purchases'; iPhone version of Fortnite to be re-released - GIGAZINE

Major third-party apps like Spotify and Kindle have responded to this ruling by adding links within their apps to purchase content on the web.

'Get Books' button appears on Amazon Kindle iOS app as Apple loses lawsuit against Epic Games - GIGAZINE

Fortnite, which had been suspended from the App Store for five years, has finally returned. In the case of Fortnite, users can now choose between an in-app payment system (Apple's payment system) and Epic Games' own payment rewards program (Epic Games' external payment system). However, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney , the usage ratio between Apple's payment system and external payment systems is 60:40, with Apple's payment system still dominating.

Fortnite returns to the App Store for the first time in five years - GIGAZINE

Meanwhile, Apple immediately appealed the court's decision, seeking to stay the order until the legal process was over.

However, the Court of Appeals denied Apple's request for an injunction. The Court of Appeals explained its reasons for denying the injunction, stating that it was 'not convinced that an injunction is appropriate' after considering factors including the likelihood that Apple would succeed on appeal, whether Apple would suffer irreparable harm, whether other parties would suffer harm if the injunction were stayed, and what the public interest is.

When technology media The Verge reached out to Apple for comment, Apple spokesperson Olivia Dalton responded, 'We are disappointed in the district court's decision not to stay the order, and we will continue to defend our case in the appeals process. As we have said before, we strongly disagree with the district court's decision. Our goal is that the App Store will remain a great opportunity for developers and a safe and trusted experience for users.'