Epic Games Wins Against Apple in App Store Dispute
Epic Games has achieved a significant legal victory against Apple in their ongoing antitrust lawsuit. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple willfully violated a 2021 injunction related to anti-competitive pricing practices.
This ruling stems from a previous court order requiring Apple to allow developers to direct users to external payment options, bypassing Apple's in-app purchase system. Apple failed to comply with this order, leading to the current ruling.
Judge Criticizes Apple's Non-Compliance
“That it thought this Court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation. As always, the coverup made it worse. For this Court, there is no second bite at the apple.”
Judge Rogers referred the case to the U.S. attorney for potential criminal contempt proceedings. This strong rebuke underscores the seriousness of Apple's non-compliance.
Fortnite's Potential Return to iOS
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Fortnite could return to the U.S. iOS App Store as early as next week. He also proposed that if Apple extends the court's ruling globally, Epic Games would reinstate Fortnite worldwide and drop all related litigation.
Sweeney's statement suggests a potential path towards resolution, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. The ongoing legal battle highlights the tension between app developers and Apple's control over its App Store.
More information on the original reporting can be found at The Verge and Tim Sweeney's X post.
