A federal judge has issued a ruling compelling Apple to loosen its control over its App Store and halt the collection of commission fees on certain app sales, concluding a five-year antitrust lawsuit initiated by Epic Games. The case sought to challenge Apple’s dominant position within the digital marketplace, particularly around its management of the App Store.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California delivered the decision on Wednesday. She sharply criticised Apple for attempting to undermine a previous court order and called for an end to the company's continued non-compliance. In her remarks, she singled out Apple’s Chief Executive, Tim Cook, and other senior executives, accusing them of dishonesty during the litigation process.
The ongoing dispute began with an earlier ruling by Judge Gonzalez Rogers, which mandated that Apple must permit apps to incorporate external links allowing users to pay app developers directly. This mechanism would enable developers and users to bypass the 30 percent commission fee imposed by Apple within its App Store and could lead to lower prices for services.
However, the judge found that Apple circumvented this mandate by introducing a new system that compelled applications utilising external payment options to pay a 27 percent commission to Apple instead. Additionally, Apple implemented pop-up notifications warning users of potential security risks associated with making payments outside the App Store, which the judge interpreted as discouraging alternative payment methods.
The New York Times reports that this ruling represents a significant judicial intervention in how Apple manages its digital ecosystem, signalling a shift in scrutiny over the tech giant’s control and revenue practices related to app payments. The case is part of broader legal and regulatory efforts targeting the market dominance of major technology companies and their impact on competition within the digital economy.
Source: Noah Wire Services