Apple Loses Bid To Halt Court Ruling Blocking Fees From Its iPhone App Store

A three-judge appeals panel rejected Apple’s request to pause an April 30 order banning the company from charging fees on in-app iPhone transactions processed outside its previously exclusive payment system, according to a two-page decision issued recently, Michael Liedtke reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The antitrust case largely focused on the 15% to 30% commissions Apple collects from commerce conducted within iPhone apps. I Photo: Apple

The setback threatens to divert billions of dollars in revenue away from Apple as it attempts to overturn the order that curbs its commission earnings from e-commerce within iPhone apps.

Apple had sought to put the order on hold after it was issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers.

The judge also found the Cupertino, California-based company in civil contempt of court and recommended opening a criminal investigation into whether one of its executives committed perjury while testifying in her Oakland, California, courtroom.

The ruling marks another twist in a legal battle initiated nearly five years ago by video game maker Epic Games, which alleged that Apple had turned the iPhone App Store into a price-gouging monopoly.

The antitrust case largely focused on the 15% to 30% commissions Apple collects from commerce conducted within iPhone apps, under a system that barred developers from offering alternative payment methods.