Apple Faces Severe Sanctions as Court Rules Against Anticompetitive App Store Practices

Epic Games Claims Victory as Apple Sanctioned for Defying Court Order Over App Store Rules

In a significant ruling issued on April 30, 2025, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in willful violation of a 2021 injunction aimed at stopping anticompetitive practices in the App Store. The judge's 80-page order highlighted internal documents and testimony that revealed Apple imposed new fees and obstacles to stifle competition, despite court instructions.

Epic Games, which first sued Apple in 2020 over App Store restrictions and commissions, accused Apple of attempting to rewrite the rules. Judge Rogers agreed, noting that Apple's VP of Finance, Alex Roman, lied under oath, and CEO Tim Cook chose to side with the finance team to preserve revenue rather than comply with the court's directive.

The court has now barred Apple from charging its 27% commission on external purchases and ordered it to stop interfering with developers' ability to communicate alternative payment options. The ruling also called out Apple’s use of 'scare screens,' static URLs, and continued claims on web purchases as tactics designed to introduce friction and suppress user conversion.

Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the victory on social media, while the court referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible criminal contempt proceedings.