Apple, the tech giant that prides itself on sleek designs and airtight ecosystems, has found itself in a legal mess of its own making. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has officially had enough, and her latest ruling makes it clear: Apple willfully violated her 2021 injunction and repeatedly lied to the court in the process.
This saga began when Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, decided to take on Apple and Google over their app store policies. Epic argued that the companies were running monopolistic operations, charging exorbitant fees and blocking developers from offering alternative payment methods. While Epic secured a decisive victory against Google, its battle with Apple resulted in a mixed ruling.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers determined that Apple was not an illegal monopolist but had engaged in anticompetitive behavior. The court ordered Apple to allow developers to communicate with users about alternative payment options—something Apple was clearly reluctant to do.
Rather than following the court’s order in good faith, Apple did what it does best: found a way to twist the rules to its advantage. Instead of allowing developers to freely direct users to external payment methods, Apple introduced a 27% fee on off-app purchases—just slightly lower than its standard 30% commission. It also implemented “scare screens” to warn users about external links, effectively discouraging them from leaving Apple’s walled garden.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers saw right through the charade. In her scathing response, she stated:
“Apple’s response to the Injunction strains credulity. After two sets of evidentiary hearings, the truth emerged. Apple, despite knowing its obligations thereunder, thwarted the Injunction’s goals, and continued its anticompetitive conduct solely to maintain its revenue stream.”
She also pointed out that Apple’s Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, outright lied under oath, prompting her to refer the matter to U.S. attorneys for a criminal contempt investigation.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers made it clear that Apple’s antics would no longer be tolerated. Her ruling permanently restrains Apple from imposing any fees on purchases made outside of apps. Apple is also barred from auditing, monitoring, or tracking developers’ external transactions.
“This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party willfully disregards a court order. Time is of the essence. The Court will not tolerate further delays.”
Apple, of course, is not taking this quietly. The company has vowed to appeal the decision, but given the judge’s firm stance, it’s unlikely to find much sympathy in the courtroom.
Apple’s legal troubles aren’t limited to the U.S. The company has been pulling similar tactics in the EU, where regulators are cracking down on its app store policies. The tech giant’s refusal to comply with court orders and its blatant disregard for competition laws may finally be catching up with it.
For years, Apple has operated under the assumption that it can bend the rules to suit its business model. But this time, it may have pushed too far. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has made it clear: Apple’s days of playing legal gymnastics are over.
Game over, Apple.
