Although Apple won nine out of ten rulings (and therefore the company itself claimed a significant victory for having Tim Sweeney’s company Epic Games  mostly knocked to the ground in court), the one it lost could be financially painful for “the apple team”.

We’ve been following the Epic Games vs Apple case for a long time (which could also include Google on the fringes for the same reasons: Sweeney perceives a monopoly, but Epic Games tried to drift away from Apple and Google’s 30% microtransaction margins, with both tech companies kicking Fortnite out from their app stores), and we previously reported that Epic Games appealed the decision (while Sweeney was wondering what the term “button” actually means…).

We reported that both companies were likely to appeal the decision at the time of the announcement, and now it’s been confirmed: Apple doesn’t think the situation is acceptable either. The only point that has been lost is the one that could hurt them financially. In mobile apps, app developers should no longer be prohibited from calling attention to external payment methods not related to the Apple App Store. And with that, in any microtransaction/purchase, there is the chance that Apple will lose between 15-30% profit margin.

Apple would like its injunction on this issue, which comes into effect on December 9, to stay because they want to wait until all appeals are concluded. “The requested stay will allow Apple to protect consumers and safeguard its platform while the company works through the complex and rapidly evolving legal, technological, and economic issues that any revisions to this Guideline would implicate,” Apple said.

So there are bound to be developments here, or you could even say that the two companies are preparing for round two. And whatever the outcome of the second round of judgments is, it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the industry.

Source: PCGamer