US Judge Finds Apple in Contempt, Refers for Criminal Charges in Epic Games Case

A US federal judge has found Apple willfully violated a 2021 court injunction aimed at curbing its anticompetitive conduct in the App Store, following a lawsuit by Fortnite-maker Epic Games. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple created new barriers and imposed additional fees on developers attempting to direct users to alternative payment systems, actions that directly defied the court's order. The judge accused Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook and Vice President of Finance Alex Roman, of ignoring internal advice to comply and even lying under oath. As a result, the judge held Apple in contempt and referred the matter to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt charges. Apple has stated it disagrees with the ruling, will comply with the order, and intends to appeal. The ruling marks a significant escalation in ongoing scrutiny of Apple’s App Store practices amid broader antitrust investigations.