Apple Appeals Mandate Allowing External Links in App Store

Apple is making a final push to block court-mandated changes that could sharply cut into its App Store revenue.

The Cupertino-based company filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit, seeking to block a ruling in its trial against Epic Games.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in Apple’s favor on nine out of 10 claims on Sept. 10 but determined that the company would have to allow apps in its App Store to provide links to external stores and sites. 

The ruling is set to take effect on Dec. 9. Apple is asking the Appeals court to act by Dec. 8.

• The App Store earns around $19 billion per year, primarily through a 30% fee charged to developers on user in-app purchases.
• Around two-thirds of that sum – $13.5 billion – came from gaming in 2020.
• Judge Gonzalez Rogers estimated the mobile gaming marketplace at $100 billion in her September ruling.

Epic Games and Apple appealed the ruling. The judge denied Apple’s request for a stay on the mandate to allow external links in November.

In its filing to the Appeals court, the company wrote that if the initial ruling goes through, “the App Store will have to be reconfigured — to the detriment of consumers, developers, and Apple itself.”