Apple to appeal contempt ruling over App Store after judge sided with Fortnite maker

Core Viewpoint - Apple has filed an appeal against a US judge's ruling that mandates the company to open its App Store to increased competition, following a contempt finding related to a previous antitrust lawsuit initiated by Epic Games [1][4]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The appeal will be submitted to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, challenging the April 30 ruling that found Apple in contempt of a 2021 injunction aimed at facilitating developers in directing consumers to cheaper non-Apple payment options [1][2]. - Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple willfully failed to comply with the injunction, which was intended to promote competition and consumer choice [2][5]. - The judge has referred Apple and one of its executives to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation, citing deliberate delays and misleading actions by Apple [4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - The ruling highlights Apple's efforts to maintain a revenue stream worth billions, which the judge claims is in direct defiance of the court's injunction [5]. - Apple imposed a new 27% fee on app developers for transactions completed outside the App Store, which was identified as a tactic to circumvent the injunction [7]. Group 3: Background of the Lawsuit - The antitrust lawsuit initiated by Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, seeks to challenge Apple's control over app transactions and distribution on its iOS operating system [6]. - The judge's order also prohibits Apple from using "scare screens" to dissuade consumers from opting for third-party payment methods [7].