Apple Inc. is confronting a fresh class-action lawsuit from app developers who allege the company deliberately defied a U.S. federal court order by continuing to impose excessive commissions on external purchases. This action is claimed to violate a 2021 injunction intended to reform Apple’s App Store policies.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The lawsuit, initiated by Pure Sweat Basketball in a California federal court, represents up to 100,000 developers who assert they suffered financial losses due to Apple’s noncompliance. This legal action follows an April 30, 2025, ruling by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who found Apple in willful contempt for failing to adhere to her previous order in the high-profile case brought by Epic Games. The 2021 injunction mandated that Apple allow app developers greater freedom to direct users toward payment methods outside of the App Store. Instead, Apple introduced a new 27% fee on such transactions, a move the court determined undermined the spirit of the ruling.
Allegations of Limited Compliance and Obstruction
Pure Sweat Basketball contends that Apple’s actions resulted in hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars in developer losses. The complaint argues that Apple schemed to maintain the status quo, preserving its dominant position and revenue stream from in-app purchases while offering only limited compliance with the court’s directive. Developers claim Apple restricted them to a single external link and allegedly used warning messages to deter users from completing purchases outside the App Store. The lawsuit also details how Apple blocked Pure Sweat from launching an educational app that included external purchase links. According to the developers, Apple’s actions forced them to pay steep commissions and restricted customer choice, harming both competition and innovation.
Legal Representation and Objectives
The legal filing, led by attorneys Steve Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and Eamon Kelly of Sperling Kenny Nachwalter, seeks to hold Apple financially accountable for violating the court’s order. The lawsuit demands restitution for all U.S. developers who offered paid in-app content between January 17, 2024—when the injunction took effect—and the date Apple fully complies.
Broader Implications for Apple’s App Store Policies
The lawsuit highlights the broader implications of Apple’s App Store policies and their impact on the developer community. Only 34 out of 136,000 developers adopted Apple’s permitted external payment link under the new policy, suggesting that Apple’s compliance efforts were ineffective or intentionally obstructive. Apple has denied any wrongdoing and filed an appeal. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has referred Apple and one of its executives to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt. Meanwhile, Apple continues to face mounting scrutiny over its App Store policies from both private developers and government agencies.
Historical Context and Ongoing Legal Challenges
This legal battle is part of a series of challenges Apple has faced regarding its App Store practices. In 2021, Apple agreed to pay $100 million to settle a lawsuit with U.S. developers and made several changes to its App Store policies, including allowing developers to communicate with customers about alternative payment methods via email. However, developers argue that these changes were insufficient and that Apple continues to engage in anticompetitive behavior. The current lawsuit underscores the ongoing tension between Apple and the developer community over the company’s control of the App Store and its commission structure.
Potential Consequences for Apple
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant financial and operational implications for Apple. If the court rules in favor of the developers, Apple may be required to pay substantial damages and further modify its App Store policies. Additionally, the referral to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt adds another layer of legal risk for the company. As Apple continues to navigate these legal challenges, the tech industry and developer community will be closely watching the proceedings and their potential impact on app distribution and monetization practices.
