Apple Inc. has petitioned a U.S. federal appeals court to delay the enforcement of a recent ruling that would require the tech giant to loosen restrictions on its App Store, warning that immediate compliance could cause “irreparable harm” to its business operations.

In a filing submitted to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Apple argued that the judge’s order intended to increase competition within the App Store ecosystem should be paused while the company’s broader appeal is underway.

At the heart of the legal dispute is a provision that prevents Apple from limiting app developers’ ability to direct users to external payment platforms, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchasing system, which typically includes a commission fee of up to 30%.

Apple contends that this requirement would force it to allow third-party access to its platform without adequate control or compensation. “No court should compel a private company to permanently give away free access to its proprietary systems,” Apple stated in the filing.

The legal battle stems from an ongoing antitrust fight with developers and regulators who accuse Apple of maintaining a monopolistic grip on its digital marketplace. While the court’s original ruling aimed to foster more choice for developers and consumers, Apple has maintained that its existing policies are designed to protect user privacy, security, and payment integrity.

Legal analysts say the outcome of this appeal could have wide-ranging implications for app store models across the tech industry, particularly for platforms that rely heavily on in-app transactions and digital content distribution.

The 9th Circuit has not yet issued a decision on Apple’s request for a stay.