Epic Games Antitrust Verdict and Apple Settlement Talks

#(Cool) Dev s are rushing to take advantage of the freer system. Also testing out or considering external payment options are The New York Times, online dating behemoth Match and Life360, developer of a location-sharing app. At the same time, payments processing firm Stripe began reaching out to CEOs of app developers, offering to help set up outside payment options. “Any foreseeable costs would be immediate ROI on the Apple fees,” it promised. Stripe is offering to collect only a 2.9% cut, plus a 30-cent fee, on app transactions going through the external link, a far smaller take than Apple’s commission. theinformation.com/articl..

Apple is displaying a red exclamation mark icon to apps that support alternative payment options in the EU. Why not add a few skulls while they're at it? Maybe a knife with the blood emoji next to it? theverge.com/news/667484/..

Google's Epic settlement term sheet prohibits Epic CEO Tim Sweeney from criticizing Google's app practices until at least September 2032. In fact, it mandates that he praise Google for their pro-competitiveness. An early candidate for the funniest story of 2026. theverge.com/news/889595/..

Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice are in talks to settle the antitrust lawsuit the agency brought against the iPhone maker in 2024, Bloomberg reported. The discussions are active and Apple has made multiple offers this year to settle with the Justice Department, though it’s possible no settlement will be reached, the news outlet reported. The original lawsuit accused Apple of making it difficult for competitors to integrate with the iPhone, creating a lock-in effect for Apple customers and ultimately leading to higher prices for consumers. Apple’s iMessage platform, for example, didn’t support modern texting standards when interacting with Android users. But Apple has said it has already resolved many of the issues highlighted in the Justice Department’s case, including iMessage adding support for the RCS—or Rich Communication Services—messaging standard in late 2024. The case, originally filed under the administration of President Joe Biden, was part of a broader crackdown on big U.S. tech companies. Apple is still facing charges from European regulators over violation of the Digital Markets Act, and other countries are going after Apple’s App Store fees. bloomberg.com/news/articl..