After a long legal battle, the Federal Court of Australia has ordered Apple to open its ecosystem to third-party app stores and alternative payment methods. The new ruling closely copies the changes brought by the Digital Markets Act in the European Union. If the court decision holds, iOS users in Australia will soon have fresh ways to find and download apps outside the official storefront.
Court orders immediate return of Fortnite and alternative app stores
A massive 1,104-paragraph court filing states that Apple broke antitrust rules and must take action to fix the problem. As a first step, the court demands that Epic Games be allowed to resubmit Fortnite to the platform right away, as long as the game follows current guidelines.
The demands mean big changes for how things work on an iPhone. Apple must allow users to discover, download, and update software through alternative App Store platforms. It cannot block or stop anyone from using these third-party options on iOS devices.
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The court also banned rules that stop developers from pointing users to cheaper prices. Apple can no longer force app makers to use its own payment system, and it must let creators take payments through outside channels instead. Users need to be able to pick alternative payment methods without running into roadblocks.
On top of that, the company cannot charge fees to developers or users who want to access third-party stores or the tools needed to build them. Apple can still check side-loaded apps for safety, but those security rules must only address real, proven risks.
Apple must complete all required system changes by March 2027
The federal court set a firm deadline of March 1, 2027, for all these orders to be finished. If Apple feels it will not be ready in time, it has a window to request more time. The company must submit evidence explaining the delay by February 15, 2027.
The court also ordered the company to pay 85 percent of the legal costs Epic racked up during the trial.
Everyone expects Apple to appeal the decision. Even so, this ruling is just the latest push from governments around the world trying to open up closed tech platforms. With more countries copying the European rulebook, keeping a tight grip on how apps are downloaded and paid for will only get harder for the company.
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