Australian court orders Apple to open iPhone to rival app stores

An Australian Federal Court has ordered Apple to open its iOS ecosystem to competition, allowing iPhone users with Australian Apple IDs to install apps from third-party app stores and directly from websites starting March 1, 2027.

Justice Jonathan Beach ruled that Apple holds a “substantial degree of power” in the iOS app distribution and in-app payment markets, which the court found was misused in breach of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The ruling mandates that Apple provide developers with the necessary tools and APIs to build alternative stores and prohibits the company from forcing the use of its proprietary In-App Purchase system. Additionally, Apple is barred from retaliating against developers who use alternative payment methods or distribution channels.

As part of the judgment, Epic Games' Fortnite is to be reinstated in the Australian App Store. While Apple has expressed its intention to appeal the decision, it must comply with the implementation timeline, which includes a narrow window for requesting extensions.