A federal judge has found Apple in contempt for violating a court order requiring it to increase competition in its App Store, referring the tech giant for criminal investigation and opening the door for Epic Games’ return to the platform.

At a Glance

• U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple in “willful violation” of her 2021 injunction against anticompetitive conduct
• Apple and its VP of finance, Alex Roman, have been referred to federal prosecutors for criminal contempt investigation
• The judge barred Apple from impeding developer communication with users and from imposing fees on purchases made outside the App Store
• Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the ruling and plans to return Fortnite to the U.S. App Store
• Apple denies wrongdoing but claims it will comply with the court’s directives

Court Finds Apple Deliberately Violated Antitrust Injunction

In a significant blow to Apple’s App Store practices, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has found the tech giant guilty of contempt for deliberately violating her 2021 injunction aimed at fostering competition among app developers. The ruling, delivered Tuesday, determined that Apple had established new anticompetitive mechanisms that directly contravened the legal order. Judge Rogers strongly criticized Apple’s actions, characterizing the company’s violations as “willful” and describing testimony from Apple’s vice president of finance, Alex Roman, as containing “misdirection and outright lies.”

The judge’s ruling included the extraordinary step of referring both Apple and Roman to federal prosecutors for potential criminal contempt proceedings. This escalation demonstrates the court’s frustration with what it views as deliberate obstruction of its previous orders. The judge made it clear that further delays or evasive tactics from Apple would not be tolerated, setting a firm deadline for compliance with her original injunction.

⚖️📱🚨 Apple Faces Criminal Contempt Probe Over App Store Antitrust Violations

🔹 Summary:

A U.S. judge ruled Apple violated a 2021 injunction to open its App Store to more competition, referring the tech giant for a possible criminal contempt probe and accusing it of willful… https://t.co/LFQXOF26mc

— PiQ (@PiQSuite) May 1, 2025

Epic Games’ Legal Victory Opens Path for Fortnite’s Return

The contempt ruling represents the latest development in an ongoing legal battle between Apple and Epic Games that began in 2020. Epic, the maker of the popular game Fortnite, sued Apple over its App Store practices, specifically targeting the requirement that app purchases go through Apple’s payment system with its mandatory 30% commission. In her 2021 ruling, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found Apple had violated California’s unfair competition law and ordered changes to allow developers more freedom in directing users to alternative payment options.

Epic Games alleged that Apple’s subsequent compliance measures actually created new barriers, including implementing a 27% fee on purchases made outside the App Store and displaying deterrent messages to users considering non-Apple payment methods. These tactics, according to Epic, undermined the spirit and letter of the court’s original injunction, designed to increase competition and provide consumers with more choices and potentially lower prices.

Court Orders Sweeping Changes to App Store Policies

Judge Gonzalez Rogers’ latest ruling imposes significant new restrictions on Apple’s App Store practices. The tech giant is now barred from impeding developers’ communication with users about alternative payment methods and from imposing fees on purchases made outside of the App Store ecosystem. Additionally, Apple cannot restrict developers’ placement or style of external purchase links, nor can it interfere with consumer choices by displaying deterrent warnings or creating unnecessary friction in the checkout process.

These restrictions strike at the heart of Apple’s App Store business model, which has relied on controlling the payment process within its ecosystem. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the ruling and proposed a “peace proposal” suggesting Apple extend the court’s framework worldwide, beyond just the United States market. While Apple has indicated it plans to appeal the ruling, the company has stated it will comply with the court’s directives in the meantime.

For consumers and developers alike, this ruling potentially signals a significant shift in the mobile app marketplace. If upheld, it could lead to more payment options, potentially lower prices for digital goods, and greater autonomy for app developers operating within Apple’s ecosystem. Epic Games has already announced plans to return Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, a move that would mark a significant reversal of the game’s 2020 removal that sparked the original lawsuit.