A federal judge has put Apple on notice, demanding that the tech giant either approve Fortnite’s submission on the U.S. App Store or be prepared to explain in court why it has not done so. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers made this request in response to Epic Games’ latest motion, which calls for Apple to allow Fortnite to be distributed on the App Store.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers appears frustrated with Apple’s actions, asking the company to provide the legal authority for ignoring the court’s order. She warns that Apple may need to return to court if the issue is not resolved promptly. The judge also requests that Apple identify the company official responsible for ensuring compliance with the court’s decision.
The demand for the name of the Apple official in the new filing suggests that Judge Gonzalez Rogers is considering contempt charges for failing to comply with the court’s injunction. This follows her previous ruling, where she criticized Apple for attempting to circumvent the court’s orders and accused the company of lying under oath.
Epic Games recently resubmitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store after winning the right to include links to external payment mechanisms in its app. However, Apple informed the game maker that it would not take action on the submission until after the Ninth Circuit rules on Apple’s request for a partial stay of the new injunction.
In response to Apple’s decision, Epic Games filed a motion to compel the court to enforce the injunction. This legal battle is the latest development in a long-standing dispute over Apple’s App Store policies, which have restricted developers from linking to external payment options without paying Apple a commission.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers previously ruled that Apple was in violation of the court’s injunction on anticompetitive pricing and commissions, potentially paving the way for Fortnite’s return to the App Store. However, Apple delayed making a decision on the game’s publication, prompting Epic Games to take further legal action.
The outcome of this legal dispute could have significant implications for Apple and may influence similar legal challenges or regulatory actions in other markets. While Apple emerged victorious in Epic’s original antitrust lawsuit, the court did rule in favor of allowing alternative payment options for iPhone users making in-app purchases.
Following the court’s decision, Apple updated its App Store policies for the U.S., leading to swift changes in apps like Spotify, Amazon Kindle, and Patreon to take advantage of the new functionality. Epic Games declined to comment on the latest developments, while Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
