Apple Ordered to Allow Crypto and NFT Purchases Without Fees, Epic Games to Return Fortnite to App Store

Apple Inc. has been ordered by a judge to allow cryptocurrency and non-fungible token (NFT) purchases within its App Store without imposing its customary 30% fee on in-app purchases. This ruling stems from a legal dispute with Epic Games, where the judge found Apple's previous non-compliance with a 2021 injunction to be a 'gross miscalculation.'

The decision prohibits Apple from charging any commission on purchases made outside of apps and from restricting developers' ability to direct users to external purchase options. This ruling specifically addresses Apple's previous policy of demanding a 27% commission on purchases made outside the app, a policy that Epic Games and others contested.

Following the ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced plans to bring Fortnite back to the US App Store. Inside Apple, App Store chief Phil Schiller had advocated for compliance with the injunction, but CEO Tim Cook, influenced by CFO Luca Maestri, chose not to comply, leading to this significant legal outcome.

This is an AI-generated article powered by DeepNewz, curated by The Defiant. For more information, including article sources, visit DeepNewz.