The ongoing legal saga between Apple and Epic Games took another turn as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a contempt finding against Apple. The appellate court concluded that Apple intentionally breached a 2021 antitrust injunction. This ruling stems from Apple’s decision to impose a 27% commission on payments made outside the App Store and instituting restrictive link designs on alternative payment options. These actions were found to be in direct violation of previous court orders aimed at curbing anticompetitive practices.
Earlier, in the landmark 2021 ruling, Apple had been enjoined from preventing app developers from directing users to alternative purchasing mechanisms. However, the latest decision by a three-judge panel details how Apple’s subsequent strategies substantially contradicted the spirit of the injunction. By introducing a high commission rate and complicating the use of external payment links, the company effectively maintained control over its lucrative app ecosystem, thwarting efforts to diversify transactional methods outside its platform. More information on this decision can be found here.
This judgment signifies another legal setback for Apple in its protracted confrontation with Epic Games, which originally sued over what it deemed monopolistic control over the iOS app market. Epic’s litigation aims to dismantle the walled garden of Apple’s app distribution and payment systems, advocating for more open commerce environments on digital platforms.
Moreover, experts believe this ruling could have wider implications for app-based economies. By holding Apple accountable for its noncompliance, the court reinforces the necessity for major tech companies to adjust their policies to meet antitrust standards and foster fair competition. Legal analysts argue that as regulators around the world closely monitor similar conducts by tech giants, this case might inspire more stringent scrutiny and reforms industry-wide.