Apple Inc. has officially appealed a recent federal court ruling that found the company in contempt for violating a 2021 injunction stemming from its high-profile antitrust case with Epic Games.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, accused Apple of deliberately undermining the court’s order by continuing to restrict how app developers can direct users to alternative payment methods outside its App Store.
At the heart of the dispute is Apple’s implementation of a 27% fee on purchases made through external links and the introduction of so-called “scare screens”—warning messages aimed at deterring users from utilizing third-party payment systems.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled these practices were in direct violation of the original injunction, stating that “Apple chose to comply with the letter of the injunction and not the spirit,” and referred Apple and one of its executives to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing, asserting in its filing to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it has complied with the court’s mandates.
The company has yet to publicly disclose the legal arguments underlying its appeal.
The ruling comes at a pivotal time, as legislative scrutiny of major tech platforms intensifies. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has announced plans to reintroduce the Open App Markets Act, a bipartisan bill first proposed in 2021.
The legislation aims to increase competition within the mobile app ecosystem by requiring app store operators with over 50 million U.S. users to allow alternative payment systems and sideloading.
Senator Blumenthal emphasized the urgency of the bill, stating, “The digital marketplace should not be controlled by a few dominant gatekeepers.
It’s time for clear rules that protect innovation, competition, and consumer choice.”
However, not all stakeholders are aligned on the need for further regulation. The Developers Alliance, representing a broad range of app developers, criticized the senator’s move. In a strongly worded statement, the organization’s board chair Jake Ward said, “Sen.
Blumenthal appears not to have learned anything about the app ecosystem or the global digital economy. Another Congress, another bad bill.”
The intersection of legal and legislative developments could have sweeping implications for Apple’s App Store business model, which has long relied on a commission-based structure.
If both the court order and the proposed legislation take effect, Apple may be forced to fundamentally rethink how it monetizes app distribution on iOS.
Industry analysts and developers alike are closely watching the outcome of Apple’s appeal and the trajectory of the Open App Markets Act, both of which could reshape the digital marketplace for years to come.
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