US Court Bans Apple from Charging Commission on External Purchases

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple violated the court rules established in the 2021 Epic Games case. The decision prohibits Apple from charging commission on purchases made outside the App Store and from restricting links to external resources.

Epic Games, which initiated the proceedings, plans to bring Fortnite back to the US App Store in May 2025. The company's CEO, Tim Sweeney, called the decision a significant victory for developers and users alike.

The matter has been referred to the Attorney's Office to determine whether Apple's actions can be classified as criminal contempt. Apple has expressed disagreement and plans to file an appeal.

The conflict between Apple and Epic Games began in 2020, when Epic Games added a direct payment option inside Fortnite, bypassing the App Store, which led to the game's removal from the marketplace.