Apple appeals contempt ruling in Epic Games App Store case

Apple has appealed a US court ruling that requires the company to open its App Store to increased competition.

The ruling, issued on April 30, 2025 by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, found Apple in contempt of a 2021 injunction related to a 2020 antitrust lawsuit initiated by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite.

This injunction aimed to allow app developers to direct users to alternative payment systems, potentially bypassing Apple’s fees.

US District Judge Gonzalez Rogers said Apple willfully disobeyed the order and may face criminal contempt charges.

The ruling also bans Apple from charging 27% fees or using scare tactics against third-party payments.

Apple denies wrongdoing but has not yet shared details of its legal arguments.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Apple’s antitrust battles reflect a growing pattern of digital marketplace regulation

This current App Store ruling is part of a longer history of antitrust challenges for Apple, highlighting how digital marketplace regulation has evolved over time.

In 2013, Apple was found guilty in a price-fixing conspiracy case regarding e-books, where the company orchestrated agreements with publishers that increased e-book prices by an average of 18% and ultimately resulted in a $450 million settlement 1.

The 2019 Supreme Court ruling in Apple Inc. v. Pepper established that consumers could directly sue Apple for App Store practices, marking a significant shift in how antitrust standing is interpreted in the digital marketplace 2.

The repeated antitrust challenges against Apple’s closed ecosystem demonstrate a regulatory concern about dominant platforms using their market position to control downstream commerce, particularly when those platforms collect substantial revenue percentages from third parties.

This latest ruling against Apple’s 27% fee on external purchases continues a trend where courts have rejected Apple’s attempts to maintain full control over its ecosystem despite court-ordered changes.

2️⃣ Financial stakes explain Apple’s resistance to App Store changes

Apple’s resistance to changing its App Store policies reflects the massive financial implications of its commission structure.