3. 05. 2025 | Natalie Bezděková

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According to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, tech giant Apple violated a 2021 court order that required it to allow app developers to offer users payment options outside of its own App Store system. The judge has now referred the case to state prosecutors for possible criminal proceedings for disobeying the court.

The impetus for reopening the case was a complaint by Epic Games, known for its Fortnite game. Epic had previously accused Apple of restricting competition and violating rules in California. According to the judge, Apple intentionally slowed down and made it difficult to comply with the court order by preventing developers from informing users about other payment methods.

In addition, Apple was criticized for one of its vice presidents, Alex Roman, allegedly providing false information during testimony. The company was also said to have sought to withhold important documents, citing legal confidentiality protections.

Apple said it disagrees with the ruling, but will comply with the order and plans to appeal. The company stressed that it “fundamentally disagrees” with the verdict. The dispute could have serious consequences for Apple, as the App Store is a key source of its revenue and any change to the payment system could significantly affect its sales.

While the original 2021 ruling did not recognize a violation of federal antitrust laws, it did order Apple to allow developers to use alternative payment methods. That ruling was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.Epic Games chief Tim Sweeney called the new ruling a significant victory for all developers.

The long-running monopoly dispute

The whole conflict began in 2020, when Epic Games offered players in Fortnite the ability to purchase in-game currency V-Bucks at a 20% discount through an alternative payment gateway. By doing so, they bypassed the standard App Store and Google Play fees. Both platforms subsequently removed Fortnite from their stores. Epic responded by filing a lawsuit to challenge both Apple and Google’s monopoly position in the mobile app market.

Since then, the situation has grown into a series of other legal disputes and antitrust authorities have become involved in the case, warning of possible restrictions on competition in the digital environment.

Photo source: www.pexels.com

Natalie Bezděková

I am a student of Master's degree in Political Science. I am interested in marketing, especially copywriting and social media. I also focus on political and social events at home and abroad and technological innovations. My free time is filled with sports, reading and a passion for travel.