A federal judge has issued a severe rebuke of Apple for intentionally flouting a court order in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Fortnite maker Epic Games. The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, had issued an earlier order in which she ordered Apple to loosen the restrictions on its exclusive in-app payment system, effectively forcing the company to allow developers to include links to other payment methods. She concluded on Wednesday that Apple had violated this 2021 injunction, which sought to rein in the company’s anticompetitive practices and pricing structure.
Court sides with Fortnite maker Epic in $1B App Store case as Apple punished for defying 2021 order
“Apple’s persistent interference with competition won’t be tolerated,” Gonzalez Rogers declared, holding the tech giant in contempt. She ordered Apple to stop obstructing developers from communicating directly with users and barred the company from charging commissions on off-app purchases. After the ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said on X that Fortnite will be back on the U.S. App Store next week. And Apple has not yet publicly responded.
Epic first sued Apple last year, alleging that the iPhone maker violated antitrust laws by creating a monopoly through the App Store, which takes a 15 percent to 30 percent cut on in-app sales made through Apple’s payment system. And though the judge threw out the monopoly claims, she also ordered Apple to ease its control over in-app payment choices. In early 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Apple’s appeals, affirming the lower court’s decision.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers also said that Apple’s internal records did not match its arguments in court, and they showed that the company, in fact, deliberately pursued anticompetitive tactics. She accused Apple VP Alex Roman of lying under oath and said CEO Tim Cook ignored internal advice from longtime executive Phillip Schiller, instead siding with CFO Luca Maestri’s team, a decision she called a “poor choice.” The judge has now referred the issue to federal prosecutors in Northern California to consider whether criminal contempt charges are warranted.
FAQs
Why was Apple held in contempt of court?
Apple was found to have violated a 2021 court order by blocking developers from linking to alternative payment options.
What happens next with Fortnite on iOS?
Epic plans to bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store next week following the ruling.
