Judge Refers Apple to Prosecutors for Contempt Violations

A federal judge has found that Apple willfully violated a court order requiring it to loosen restrictions on its App Store, particularly regarding external payment options for app developers. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that Apple deliberately took actions to maintain anticompetitive barriers and even accused a top Apple executive of lying under oath. The judge referred Apple and an executive to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation, emphasizing that Apple’s conduct was designed to protect its lucrative revenue streams. The updated injunction now explicitly prohibits Apple from taking commissions on purchases made outside its App Store and from restricting developers' ability to guide users toward external payment methods. This ruling marks a significant victory for Epic Games, which brought the original antitrust lawsuit, and could lead to broader changes in app store policies if Apple complies globally. Apple has stated it will appeal the decision but will comply with the current court order.