Court Orders Apple to Face Federal Investigation

In a stunning ruling, a U.S. federal judge declared that Apple has violated a court order designed to boost competition within its coveted App Store. The judge's decision comes as part of an ongoing legal battle initiated by Epic Games, the creators of "Fortnite." U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has now referred Apple, along with finance vice president Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation.

A Warning to Apple: No More Do-Overs

Judge Gonzalez Rogers emphasized that Apple’s disregard for her earlier injunction would not be tolerated. "This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party willfully disregards a court order," she stated firmly in her 80-page verdict.

Epic Games Celebrates a Win for Developers

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, hailed the judge's ruling as a monumental victory for developers and consumers alike. "It forces Apple to compete with other payment services rather than blocking them, and this is what we wanted all along," he told reporters. Sweeney expressed hopes of returning Fortnite to the App Store next week after Apple removed it in 2020 for circumventing their payment protocols.

Apple's Legal Struggles Continue

Despite its attempts to defend its practices, Apple, which imposes a hefty 30% commission on app sales within its ecosystem, has been accused of stifling competition and overcharging developers. Judge Gonzalez Rogers had previously ruled that Apple violated California competition laws, mandating that developers be given more freedom to channel users to alternative payment methods.

The Controversial New Fee