Apple has successfully won a stay on an injunction that would have required it to make sweeping App Store changes as soon as tomorrow, December 9. This means that at least for the short term, Apple can continue to require developers to use its in-app purchasing system, with no alternatives being offered.
The judge on September 10 issued a permanent injunction that required Apple to let U.S. developers direct customers to payment options other than Apple’s in-app purchase system.
The injunction was set to go into effect in 90-days. Apple must allow developers of all applications to link out to third-party payment solutions. Apple had asked for a stay, which the judge denied. Apple then appealed the request to the Ninth Court of Appeals.
The appeals court granted the stay and said that Apple has demonstrated that its appeal raises “serious questions” about the ruling in the original case.
Apple has demonstrated, at minimum, that its appeal raises serious questions on the merits of the district court’s determination that Epic Games, Inc. failed to show Apple’s conduct violated any antitrust laws but did show that the same conduct violated California’s Unfair Competition Law. […]
Therefore, we grant Apple’s motion to stay part (i) of paragraph (1) of the permanent injunction. The stay will remain in effect until the mandate issues in this appeal.
The court has stayed the enforcement of the injunction until it is able to fully hear the case, which could take several months. Apple will be able to operate the App Store as is while the court considers its appeal.
(Via MacRumors)