Apr 30, 2025 - Technology

Judge orders Apple to remove hefty fee on off-app purchases

Scott Rosenberg

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Apple must stop levying 27% commissions on sales that take place when apps point users to websites beyond Apple's App Store, a federal judge ordered Wednesday.

The intrigue: In a scorching ruling that called Apple's response to a previous order "an obvious cover-up," Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers also referred Apple's behavior to federal prosecutors to investigate whether to bring criminal contempt of court charges.

Catch up quick: The ruling comes as part of the long legal fight between Epic Games and Apple over Apple's control of the App Store.

The court originally ruled mostly in favor of Apple, but ordered the iPhone maker to allow app makers like Epic to send users "off-app" to conduct business via channels that wouldn't be subject to Apple's 30% commission.
Apple's response — after losing an appeal — was to allow such transactions but add a new 27% fee on them.

The big picture: Apple earns significant revenue from its App Store fees.

While users may find it less convenient to conduct business with app makers via websites rather than inside apps, doing so could save everyone a lot of money, and hurt Apple's bottom line.

The other side: Apple has argued that its App Store fees fund the store's operations and support Apple's efforts to vet apps and keep its customers secure and safe.

"We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal," Apple said in a statement.

Read the full ruling that The Verge obtained, via DocumentCloud:

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Judge orders Apple to remove hefty fee on off-app purchases

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