In a bold move to safeguard a massive revenue generator, Apple is striving to delay a court ruling that would let U.S. app developers bypass its payment system, potentially eroding the company's hefty commission fees.

Late Wednesday, Apple filed an emergency motion, urging an appeals court to place a hold on a recent judgment that went in favor of Epic Games, marking a significant point in their ongoing legal battle.

This fresh ruling mandates Apple to enable iOS apps to include links redirecting users to external payment systems, thus avoiding the commission Apple usually takes. Furthermore, Apple would have to stop warning users with 'scare screens' about the risks of making such purchases outside its ecosystem.

Apple, however, is pushing back, requesting a stay on the ruling that prohibits them from charging commissions on transactions made through external payment links. The tech giant contends that this new ruling significantly expands the scope of an earlier injunction ruling from 2021, which did not originally prevent Apple from earning from non-Apple payment systems.

In its bid for a temporary pause, Apple claims compliance with prior rulings and admits to letting developers link to external payment options, but simultaneously noted that it collected a 27% cut from those transactions. Critics argue that this control gives Apple an unfair advantage.

According to Apple, if this latest court ruling stands, it could lead to substantial financial losses. The company expressed in its filing, "These restrictions will cost Apple considerable sums annually and are based on actions that have never been proven unlawful." They labeled the ruling as punitive for alleged non-compliance with a prior injunction.

Without a stay, Apple warns of "grave irreparable harm" to its business model.

Epic Games responded swiftly to Apple’s move, calling it a desperate attempt to stifle competition and maintain what they refer to as "massive junk fees" detrimental to consumers and developers alike.

Earlier this week, Apple had filed an appeal against the court decision. They have already begun adapting to the changes, allowing developers like Spotify and Amazon to redirect users to their own websites for payments, signaling a significant shift in the balance of power in the app marketplace.