Australian Court Orders Apple to Open iOS to Rival App Stores

A decisive defeat for Apple's walled garden

Australia's Federal Court found that Apple engaged in non-competitive conduct to protect its distribution monopoly.

In a sweeping ruling, Justice Jonathan Beach determined that Apple misused its market power to maintain an ironclad grip over iOS app distribution and in-app transactions across Australia.

The court did not mince words regarding Apple's past behavior under legal scrutiny. Justice Beach noted that when faced with judicial or regulatory limits that lack explicit detail, Apple has routinely enacted practices intended to bypass those constraints. The judge concluded that the company devised a deliberate strategy aimed at shutting competitors out of iOS software distribution.

Under the orders, Apple must clear the way for rival app stores and third-party payment rails by noon Australian Eastern time on March 1, 2027. The order also demands the immediate return of Epic Games titles, including Fortnite, which Apple booted from the platform in 2020 after the developer introduced an unauthorized direct payment method.

Apple prepares an appeal as global pressure mounts

Apple has denied the antitrust findings and stated it will challenge the verdict before the February 15 deadline.

A spokesperson for Apple argued that the company holds no monopoly in Australia or elsewhere, contending that other global jurisdictions have rejected similar market definitions. The company plans to request a stay of the orders while it appeals, maintaining that the current App Store structure protects user security and intellectual property.

The Australian judgment follows growing global resistance to Apple's tight ecosystem rules. While the European Union previously forced support for alternative marketplaces under the Digital Markets Act, and UK regulators targeted Apple Pay on separate financial grounds, Australia's ruling represents one of the starkest judicial repudiations of the company's storefront policies driven directly by private litigation.

Availability and international impact

The ruling applies specifically to devices and user accounts registered in Australia, meaning iPhone users in the US, UK, and other non-EU markets will see no immediate changes to how they download apps or make in-game purchases.

However, the March 2027 compliance deadline gives other global regulators a fresh precedent to cite. If Apple fails to overturn the ruling on appeal, Australian iOS owners will gain the same alternative marketplace freedom currently limited to European Union members.

With Apple facing an impending appeal deadline, the Australian decision marks Epic Games' most significant courtroom victory against the iPhone ecosystem to date.