San Francisco: A US federal judge has found Apple Inc. in willful violation of a court injunction issued in 2021 as part of its long-running legal dispute with Epic Games, and has referred the matter to federal prosecutors to consider criminal contempt proceedings.
In a sharply worded ruling, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said Apple not only ignored her earlier order aimed at curbing anticompetitive behavior in its App Store but also actively worked to undermine it.
The judge further stated that a senior Apple executive had “outright lied” under oath during testimony. “Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option,” Judge Gonzalez Rogers wrote in her contempt order.
The injunction, part of a 2021 decision in the case brought by Epic Games, required Apple to allow app developers to direct users to external payment options, effectively bypassing Apple’s proprietary in-app payment system and its commissions of up to 30 percent.
NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax.
Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there.
4 years 4 months 17 days. https://t.co/RucrsX7Z4A pic.twitter.com/3kSYnt5pcI
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 30, 2025
Despite the clear language of the injunction, the court found that Apple imposed new conditions and fees that discouraged the use of third-party purchasing platforms. Among them was the introduction of a 27 percent commission on external purchases, a charge that had not previously existed.
The judge noted that internal Apple documents showed top executives deliberately chose policies that conflicted with the court order. In a statement issued, Apple strongly rejected the court’s findings.
The contempt ruling could have far-reaching consequences for Apple and the broader tech industry. It reinforces mounting regulatory pressure on digital marketplaces and adds momentum to global efforts, such as the EU’s Digital Markets Act aimed at curbing the power of dominant tech platforms.
Should the US Attorney for the Northern District of California decide to proceed with criminal contempt charges, Apple could face fines, sanctions, or other punitive measures.
