Apple objecting to outside payment feature ahead of court hearing

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[Reuters]: Apple on Friday outlined their objections to allowing app developers to link to third-party payment options ahead of a hearing next month that could determine whether a judge’s antitrust court orders is put on pause during the appeal.

After a lengthy trial earlier this year brought by “Fortnite” creator Epic Games, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a ruling that was largely favorable to the iPhone maker and upheld its practice of requiring developers to use its in-app payment system, for which it charges commissions.

But Gonzalez Rogers expressed concern that consumers did not have access to information about other ways to pay for apps. She ordered Apple to stop its ban on “buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms” beyond Apple’s own payment systems.

Apple has until Dec. 9 to implement the order, but the company has appealed the ruling and asked the order to be put on hold while the appeal plays out, which could take a year or more. A hearing on the request is set for Nov. 9.