Apple(US:AAPL) New York Post·2025-05-01 17:10Core Viewpoint - Apple is facing potential criminal charges after a federal judge ruled that the company violated an antitrust order related to App Store restrictions, with CEO Tim Cook being singled out for allegedly ignoring advice from his deputies to comply with the ruling [1][5][7]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings and Rulings - The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, stated that Cook "chose poorly" by directing his team to defy a court order in the ongoing dispute with Epic Games [1][4]. - Epic Games accused Apple of anticompetitive behavior, leading to a 2021 injunction that required Apple to allow developers to offer alternative payment methods outside the App Store [2][14]. - The judge found that Apple had considered external costs related to alternative payment methods and intentionally set its commission high enough to exceed those costs, undermining claims made by Apple's vice president of finance, Alex Roman [9][14]. Group 2: Internal Dynamics at Apple - Internal discussions revealed that senior executives, including Phillip Schiller, advocated for compliance with the court's order, but Cook sided with his finance team [4][5]. - The judge accused Roman of lying under oath and stated that Apple adopted misrepresentations to the court [6][10]. - Cook's decision to ignore Schiller's advice and follow the finance team's direction was highlighted as a significant misstep [5][11]. Group 3: Implications for Apple and Developers - The ruling mandates that Apple cease collecting commissions on purchases made via external links within apps, which is a significant concession aimed at curbing Apple's dominance in digital commerce on iOS [15]. - Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, described the ruling as a landmark moment for app developers, emphasizing that it forces Apple to compete [15][16]. - The judge also directed Apple to cover Epic Games' legal fees related to the contempt issue, further impacting the company's financial obligations [15].