Core Viewpoint - A landmark ruling by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers requires Apple Inc. to immediately cease charging commissions on in-app purchases made outside the App Store and prohibits any intimidation of users opting for external payment methods, marking a significant shift in the relationship between software developers and platform providers [1][9]. Group 1: Legal Background - The case originated from Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple in 2020, accusing Apple of enforcing a 30% commission on in-app purchases for Fortnite, which is referred to as the "Apple tax," and restricting developers from directing users to alternative payment methods [3]. - In a 2021 ruling, although the court did not find Apple guilty of monopolistic practices, it mandated that Apple allow developers to use third-party payment methods [3]. Group 2: Recent Developments - Epic Games accused Apple in 2023 of not complying with the previous ruling, claiming that Apple still extracts a 27% commission on external payments and employs intimidation tactics to deter users from using alternative payment methods [5][6]. - The ruling highlights that Apple must not charge any commission on external payments, use intimidating warnings, or prohibit developers from providing external payment links [9]. Group 3: Financial Implications - The ruling could significantly impact Apple's revenue model, as the App Store's commission structure has been a major cost for developers, potentially leading to increased profits for developers if they can avoid platform fees [9][14]. - For example, a developer previously earning $100,000 monthly through in-app purchases faced a $30,000 fee due to the "Apple tax," which could be reduced significantly under the new ruling [6]. Group 4: Industry Impact - The ruling is seen as a major challenge to the existing "closed ecosystem" model of the tech industry, which could prompt similar legal actions against other platforms like Google Play [9][10]. - The decision may lead to a shift in how software developers approach payment systems, potentially increasing competition and reducing costs for consumers [14]. Group 5: Apple's Response - Apple expressed strong disagreement with the ruling but committed to complying with the court's order while indicating intentions to appeal [10]. - Internal discussions at Apple revealed that there were considerations to eliminate external payment commissions, but these were ultimately rejected by the company's leadership [12].

更合理的苹果税。 历时 5 年的「苹果税」诉讼，迎来了第一个大结局。 负责该案的美国法官 Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers 裁定，即日起，苹果不得再对 App 外的购买行为收取费用，并禁止该公司限制 App 开发人员引导用 户进行 App 外购买。 「苹果税杀手」 Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers 这个在五一前夕作出的裁决，不仅只是起诉方 Epic Games 的胜利，也是更多 App 开发劳动者的胜利。 苹果税，不存在了？ 具体来说，Rogers 在裁决中对苹果的禁令包括： 除了向用户发送一条中性消息，告知他们即将前往第三方网站之外，不能干扰消费者离开 App 的选择 也就是说，以后的 App 开发者，可以正大光明在 App 内购的页面，为消费者提供一个不是 App Store 的支付渠道，并且苹果无权从这个渠道中 进行抽成。 而应用开发者本身也要向第三方渠道支付一定的交易费用，这使得他们的总成本超过了原本 30% 的「苹果税」，实际上让第三方支付的方式并不 可用。 这个裁决将意味着苹果失去大部分应用内购的控制权，会有越来越多开发者和用户选择不走 App Store 的渠道进行交易。 ...

罗杰斯本周三表示，此前法院裁决后，苹果反而采取了一种新的方式，使在App Store之外销售商品的 应用程序开发者需要向苹果支付27%的佣金。此外，苹果还以App Store之外支付可能不安全为由，劝用 户不要在其他地方支付。该法官表示，苹果无视法院禁令。该法官将苹果移交给联邦检察官进行藐视法 庭刑事调查。 法官表示，苹果不能再从App Store以外的应用程序销售中收取佣金，也不能制定规则来阻止应用开发 者创建外部链接。 当地时间周三，美国加州一名联邦法官裁定，苹果必须放松对App Store的控制，并停止对部分应用程 序的销售收取佣金。此事前因是Epic Games曾对苹果发起诉讼，相关诉讼裁决后，该法官认为苹果违反 了相关诉讼裁决。 2020年，Epic Games游戏《堡垒之夜》因绕过"应用内购买"、开通第三方支付被苹果下架。Epic Games 认为，苹果非法维持iOS系统在App分销市场中的垄断地位，起诉了苹果。2021年，美国法院在要求 Epic Games支付佣金和利息的同时，要求苹果改进应用商店政策。经历多起诉讼，2021年，苹果作出妥 协，同意开发者可通过邮件等方式，向用户介绍苹果iOS支 ...