Apple (AAPL, Financial) has requested the U.S. Federal Appeals Court to temporarily halt a judge's ruling that mandates the company to open its lucrative App Store to more competitors. Apple argues that without a stay on the April 30 order, the iPhone maker would suffer irreparable harm. The company is contesting a decision that found it in contempt for violating a previous order in an antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite.
Apple claims the new ruling undermines its ability to control core aspects of its business operations. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ordered Apple to cease practices aimed at circumventing the ban, including a court-prohibited 27% fee on developers for app purchases completed outside the App Store.
Apple contends that the federal court cannot "compel Apple to provide its products and services for free indefinitely." The company also challenges parts of the judge's order that restrict developers from placing purchase links outside of apps.
