Despite a court order mandating that Apple allow developers to link to alternate purchasing mechanisms, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple made deliberate moves to maintain its competitive edge. Evidence of internal communications revealed that key executives, including CEO Tim Cook, chose to sidestep the injunction. Apple has faced backlash for charging off-app commissions and creating obstacles to third-party purchases. In a notable response, Epic Games proposed to reintroduce Fortnite to the App Store if Apple agrees to globally extend its current payment framework.
**Apple Investigated for Criminal Contempt Over Antitrust Violations**
**Apple Investigated for Criminal Contempt Over Antitrust Violations**
A district judge has accused Apple of willful misconduct in an Epic Games lawsuit, potentially leading to criminal charges.
In a significant turn of events, a U.S. District Judge has accused Apple of violating a court injunction designed to promote fair competition in its App Store. The judge's ruling stems from a case initiated by Epic Games, which challenged Apple's dominant payment methods and sought to introduce third-party options. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney for further investigation. Apple has contested the ruling and plans to appeal.
