DIGIVESTASI - The US Supreme Court has rejected Apple's appeal of an antitrust lawsuit that requires the iPhone maker to allow app developers to connect to web-based external payment options.  Apple appealed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in April 2023, following the preliminary injunction in Epic v. Apple. Apple in September 2021. 

Initially in August 2020, Epic launched Project Liberty, which involved the introduction of alternative payment methods for the Fortnite game on iOS and Google. Apple has appealed this decision. In April 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision. Apple appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear the case on January 16, meaning the Ninth Circuit's decision stands. 

Following the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case, Apple finally released an update to its App Store guidelines that provides new rules for including in-app links that lead to an optional external web-based payment system. To utilize this feature, developers must submit a permission request with certain conditions.

Meanwhile, Google, following an investigation by the UK competition authority, said in April 2023 that it would allow developers to use alternative payment methods in apps on the UK Google Play Store, a 4% reduction in fees if Google Play payments are offered with Google. Play store alternative and 3% otherwise. Google revealed that to comply with EU DMA legislation, which came into effect in March this year, it will reduce the cost of alternative payments by 3%. 

In addition, Apple and Google charge slightly lower fees for off-platform payments in other jurisdictions that require it, as in the case of Epic v. Google and the future of alternative app payments The game was quickly removed from both stores for violating platform policies, as neither the App Store nor Google Play allow the use of alternative payment method apps. Epic soon filed an antitrust lawsuit against both companies.