Apple is banned from charging fees or showing warnings for third-party payments.
Epic promises a global Fortnite return if Apple adopts a fair, fee-free model.
Apple VP accused of lying under oath; case referred for possible criminal contempt.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple violated the 2021 injunction in Epic Games’ high-profile lawsuit. As a result, Apple has been ordered to immediately stop collecting commissions on purchases made outside of the App Store, as well as to prohibit the use of scare screens to discourage users from using third-party payment systems for in-app purchases.
SurveyThe decision has finally been made, and Fortnite will return to iOS devices in the United States next week. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced via X post that Fortnite will be available on iOS in the United States beginning next week. Sweeny also stated that if Apple implements a commission-free and tax-free payment framework worldwide, Epic will return Fornitie to the App Store, dropping all ongoing lawsuits in the matter.
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For those unfamiliar, the court ruled on the directive in 2021, stating that while Apple did not have a monopoly on app distribution, it must allow developers to direct users to alternative payment systems. However, Apple continued to charge up to 27% in commissions on external purchases, even displaying security warnings to discourage users from leaving the App Store, which the court now considers direct refusal.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers noted that Apple’s App Store head, Phil Schiller, had suggested eliminating commissions on external links, but the move was opposed by former CFO Luca Maestri and CEO Tim Cook. The judge also accused Apple’s Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, of lying under oath and has referred the case for possible criminal contempt proceedings.
For the time being, Apple has stated that it will appeal the ruling but will continue to follow court orders. However, it is unclear whether Epic Games will relaunch Fortnite on iOS after nearly four years, or if the legal battle will continue.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
