Apple Appeals Court's Contempt Ruling in Epic Games Lawsuit

Apple has filed a new appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, challenging a recent federal court ruling that found the company in contempt for violating a 2021 injunction related to its App Store practices. This legal development is part of the ongoing antitrust battle initiated by Epic Games, which began in 2020.

The original injunction, issued in 2021 by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, required Apple to allow app developers to inform users about alternative payment methods outside the App Store, potentially bypassing the company’s standard commission fee of up to 30%.

However, in April 2025, Judge Rogers ruled that the tech giant, under the leadership of Tim Cook, had willfully violated this order. The company introduced a new 27% fee on purchases made through external links and implemented measures such as so-called “intimidation screens” to discourage users from opting for alternative payment methods. Judge Rogers criticized the company for "directly defying" the court's directive and referred both the company and one of its executives to federal prosecutors, who may pursue criminal contempt charges.

According to reports, Apple is now appealing the contempt ruling, though the specific legal arguments have not been disclosed. In its latest appeal, Apple maintains that it complied with the injunction by updating its App Store guidelines to permit developers to include links to external payment methods. However, Epic Games and other developers argue that the new 27% fee and associated restrictions render these links "commercially unusable," effectively undermining the intent of the court's order.

The timing of Apple’s appeal is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with increasing regulatory scrutiny over its App Store practices. Just last month, in April 2025, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million (approximately $570 million) for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission found that Apple restricted app developers from directing users to alternative purchase options outside the App Store, limiting competition and consumer choice.

Despite these legal pressures and regulatory setbacks, the scale and financial contributions of the App Store remain substantial. The platform boasts over 650 million active users globally each week. In 2024, it generated nearly $92 billion in revenue from mobile app spending, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, during the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, Apple reported total revenue of $95.4 billion. A significant contributor to this figure was Apple’s services division, which achieved record revenue of $26.6 billion, up 12% from the previous year. Notably, this segment includes services like the App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud.