Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ruled that Apple violated her 2021 decision in the Epic Games lawsuit. She ordered Apple to stop collecting commissions on purchases made outside the App Store, effective immediately. In 2021, she ruled that Apple did not hold an App Store monopoly but mandated that developers could direct users to alternative payment systems. Last year, Epic Games accused Apple of non-compliance, as it still took a 27% commission for external purchases and displayed warning screens discouraging such transactions. The judge clarified that Apple should not collect any fees for external purchases. She also prohibited Apple from showing ‘scare screens’ and creating rules that prevent developers from offering third-party payment options. Apple plans to appeal the decision but will comply with the court’s orders. The ruling highlights that Apple knowingly chose anticompetitive actions, and the judge requested an investigation into Apple and its Vice-President of Finance, Alex Roman, for possible criminal contempt. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced the return of Fortnite to iOS in the U.S. next week and globally if Apple adopts a commission-free payment framework.
— new from Engadget
