Epic Games and Apple dispute App Store commission basis in court

Epic Games has accused Apple of intentionally slowing down legal proceedings related to new commission rates for the App Store. The dispute centers on Apple's proposal to charge developers a 5% to 15% commission on transactions made through external links. Epic Games alleges that Apple has failed to provide necessary internal documents that would justify the basis for these new rates.

Apple has refuted Epic Games' claims, arguing that Epic is responsible for the delays. According to Apple, this is due to Epic's late request for extensive document discovery and depositions from numerous individuals. Apple maintains it has already provided supporting business records and data for the new fee structure.

The current conflict stems from a previous court ruling that mandated Apple allow developers to direct users to external payment methods. Apple introduced the new commission plan, which is lower than a previously proposed 27%, in response. The legal battle involves multiple points of contention, including whether Apple is entitled to collect commissions on transactions facilitated by external links.

Epic Games has asked the court to order Apple to submit all requested documents in batches, with a final deadline of November 1, 2026. The company argues that Apple's explanations, which have focused on internal discussions and external expert analyses, are insufficient to demonstrate the rationale behind the new commission fees.

This legal skirmish is part of a broader ongoing battle over Apple's App Store policies, with potential implications for app developers and Apple's business model.