Apple Sanctioned for App Store Payment Violations

A U.S. federal judge found Apple in willful violation of a 2021 injunction by restricting developers from steering users to third-party payment options and imposing a new 27% fee on external purchases. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, exhibited a pattern of deception, with Roman accused of lying under oath; both have been referred to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt charges. The court ordered Apple to stop charging commissions on external purchases and to pay Epic Games' legal fees. This ruling is a major victory for Epic and app developers, with the potential to significantly weaken Apple's control over app payments in the U.S. and reflects mounting regulatory scrutiny Apple faces globally. Apple has stated it will comply with the order but intends to appeal.