In a major technology and international news development, Apple has been referred for a possible criminal contempt investigation after a US judge ruled the company wilfully violated a court injunction in its ongoing battle with Epic Games.

 

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple's actions directly contravened her 2021 injunction aimed at curbing anticompetitive practices within the App Store. The ruling was meant to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment platforms, bypassing Apple’s 15-30% commission.

 

In this latest update, the judge found that Apple continued to obstruct competition by imposing a 27% commission on external purchases and creating new hurdles for developers. Internal documents showed that the company was fully aware of its defiance. CEO Tim Cook allegedly ignored executive Phillip Schiller’s push for compliance, siding instead with CFO Luca Maestri.

 

Most notably, Apple’s Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, was accused of outright lying under oath, prompting the judge to refer the matter to the US Attorney’s Office in Northern District of California for a potential criminal contempt proceeding.

 

Responding late Wednesday, an Apple spokesperson said:

 

“We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal.”

 

The case stems from a 2021 lawsuit by Epic Games, which argued that Apple's control over the App Store constituted a monopoly, especially due to its mandatory in-app purchase system.

 

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced the return of Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week and proposed a global settlement — if Apple applies the same commission-free framework worldwide, Epic will drop all related lawsuits.

 

In his social media post, Sweeney stated:

 

“NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax… Unlawful here, unlawful there.”

 

The ruling amplifies the global spotlight on Apple, which is already under scrutiny by regulators in LA, the EU, and other regions due to similar technology and competition concerns.

 

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