In a seismic ruling that could reshape the mobile app economy, a U.S. federal judge has struck a powerful blow against Apple’s App Store policies, siding with Epic Games after a drawn-out five-year legal battle. The decision not only marks a major legal victory for Epic but also signals a turning point for developers and digital marketplaces long chafing under Apple’s rigid ecosystem.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Wednesday that Apple willfully violated a 2021 injunction by continuing to enforce anti-competitive practices through deceptive new fees and scare tactics. Instead of complying with the court’s previous order to allow external payment links in apps—thus circumventing the notorious 30% “Apple tax”—Apple introduced a workaround: a 27% commission on those same external sales, coupled with pop-up warnings designed to deter users from leaving Apple’s payment system.
The judge didn’t mince words, accusing Apple executives—including CEO Tim Cook—of misleading the court, saying Apple had “outright lied under oath” and engaged in “willful violation” of the original ruling. The court has now barred Apple from collecting commissions on purchases made outside its App Store and from placing restrictions or fear-based messaging around those transactions. The matter has even been escalated to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for potential criminal contempt.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful day for everybody,” said Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, who also confirmed that Fortnite will return to the U.S. iOS App Store as early as next week. He extended an olive branch to Apple, suggesting Epic would drop all litigation if Apple adopted these new terms globally.
Spotify and other companies quickly celebrated the decision. “This landmark court ruling is a victory for developers everywhere,” said Spotify spokesperson Jeanne Moran, signaling plans to immediately update its app to reflect the new freedoms.
Apple, meanwhile, expressed sharp disagreement with the ruling. “We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court’s order, and we will appeal,” said spokesperson Olivia Dalton. Apple shares fell 1.5% in after-hours trading following the announcement.
With nearly $100 billion in annual services revenue at stake, much of it tied to the App Store, this ruling poses a real threat to one of Apple’s most profitable divisions. More importantly, it represents a broader shift in the power dynamics of digital commerce—one that favors developers, encourages innovation, and offers consumers more choice.
Is this the beginning of the end for Big Tech’s walled gardens? For now, Epic Games has cracked open the gate.
