Apple Held in Contempt for Violating App Store Antitrust Injunction

A U.S. federal judge has found Apple in willful violation of a 2021 injunction that required the company to allow app developers to direct users to third-party payment options, stemming from Epic Games' antitrust lawsuit. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple imposed new barriers, such as a 27% fee on external purchases and restrictive warnings, which undermined the injunction's intent to foster competition. The judge criticized Apple for maintaining anticompetitive practices to preserve its revenue stream and referred both the company and a senior executive to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt charges. Effective immediately, Apple is barred from taking commissions on purchases made outside the App Store and cannot limit how developers present external payment options. Epic Games applauded the ruling and indicated plans to return Fortnite to the App Store. Apple has stated it will appeal the decision but will comply with the court's order in the interim.