Apple Proposes 15% Commission on External App Purchases Amid Epic Legal Dispute
Apple has submitted a proposal to a federal judge seeking permission to charge commissions of up to 15% on digital purchases made through external links within iOS apps, a move that represents the latest development in the company's prolonged legal dispute with Epic Games.
The proposal comes after California district court judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in April 2025 that Apple had "willfully" failed to comply with her 2021 injunction in the Epic Games v. Apple case. Under that earlier injunction, Apple was required to allow developers to include links directing users to external payment options.
According to court filings, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel had previously ruled on certain aspects of the dispute, creating the current legal landscape that Apple is now navigating with its latest proposal.
Epic Games has already responded to Apple's filing, characterizing the company's request as "far outside of the bounds" of what the court has indicated is appropriate. The game developer, which originally brought the antitrust case against Apple in 2020, has been a persistent critic of the App Store's commission structure and external link restrictions.
The outcome of this filing could have significant implications for how App Store purchases are handled in the United States, potentially affecting how developers monetize apps and how much revenue Apple retains from transactions made outside its proprietary payment system.