In 2021, a federal judge ruled that Apple must allow developers to direct users to external payment options — a decision that would have weakened Apple’s control over in-app purchases.
Epic Games later revived the case, alleging that Apple had failed to comply with that order. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sided with Epic, ruling that Apple was in contempt of court for not fully implementing the changes.
In a scathing decision, the judge found that Apple’s Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, had lied under oath and referred the matter to federal prosecutors for potential criminal investigation. Additionally, Apple was sanctioned for misusing attorney-client privilege to delay the proceedings.
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The financial toll of the lawsuit has been staggering for Epic Games.
“Epic Games has paid legal bills in excess of $100 million,” Sweeney told Business Insider. “But if you look at lost revenue, that’s another story.”
