Court Rules Apple Violated Antitrust Injunction Over App Store Practices

A U.S. District Court has ruled that Apple must permit app developers to include fee-free links to external crypto and NFT payment services in their iOS apps, following findings that Apple violated an earlier injunction from its antitrust case with Epic Games. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple's actions anticompetitive and ordered the company to stop imposing commissions on external transactions, as well as to cease monitoring or restricting such links. The decision grants developers more freedom, especially those working with digital assets, to direct users outside the App Store and avoid paying Apple's fees. The judge also referred Apple and its vice president of finance to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation, highlighting the company's attempts to circumvent the court’s order. Apple, while stating its disagreement with the ruling, indicated that it will comply and seek to appeal. The case underscores ongoing legal scrutiny over Apple’s App Store practices and its broader impact on competition within the app ecosystem.