Apple loses bid to pause app store reform order in Epic Games case
June 4 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab on Wednesday failed to persuade a U.S. appeals court to pause key parts of a federal judge's order requiring the iPhone maker to immediately open its lucrative App Store to more competition.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected, opens new tab Apple's request to put the provisions on hold as the tech company appeals the judge's order, which came in a long-running antitrust lawsuit brought by “Fortnite” maker Epic Games.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in April found Apple in contempt of an earlier injunction order she issued in the Epic Games case.
Apple in a statement said it was "disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court’s order, and we’ll continue to argue our case during the appeals process."
The judge on April 30 ordered Apple to end several practices that she said were designed to circumvent the injunction, including a new 27% fee Apple imposed on app developers when its customers complete an app purchase outside the App Store.
The court also prohibited Apple from restricting where developers place links to make purchases outside of an app.