Epic Games scores a big win in lawsuit against Apple

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

In a major development in the ongoing Epic Games vs Apple legal battle, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ruled that Apple can no longer collect commissions on purchases made outside of its apps, nor can it restrict developers from directing users to those external purchasing options. 

This ruling takes effect immediately and represents a significant victory for Epic Games, which has long challenged Apple’s tight control over its App Store ecosystem and associated fees.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in “willful” noncompliance with her original 2021 injunction, calling the company’s defiance a “gross miscalculation.” 

Apple had implemented a controversial policy demanding a 27% commission on out-of-app purchases, circumventing the intent of the earlier ruling, which aimed to allow developers more freedom in providing alternate payment methods. 

The judge has now explicitly barred Apple from imposing any fee on such transactions and from interfering with how developers design links or prompts to guide users outside the app for purchases.

Additionally, the court prohibited Apple from limiting users’ ability to leave an app through anything more than a neutral notification and referred the case to the US Attorney for potential criminal contempt review. 

This raises the stakes considerably and highlights the judge’s frustration with Apple’s actions.

Apple responded by stating it “strongly disagrees” with the ruling but will comply and plans to appeal. (Via: The Verge)

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the outcome, announcing that Fortnite would return to the US App Store the following week. 

He also proposed a broader resolution: if Apple applies the same fee-free framework globally, Epic will drop all ongoing and future litigation on the matter and reinstate Fortnite worldwide.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook for disregarding internal advice from App Store head Phil Schiller, who urged compliance. 

Instead, Cook followed the guidance of CFO Luca Maestri, a decision she called a poor choice made in pursuit of preserving a revenue stream worth billions.

What do you think about this ruling? Do you want to see Fortnite back on the App Store? Tell us below in the comments, or reach out to us via our Twitter or Facebook.