Apple Appeals Court Ban on Web Purchase Fees

Apple has filed an appeal in response to a recent federal court ruling that found it in civil contempt for violating a 2021 injunction against anticompetitive App Store practices. The company submitted its notice of appeal on May 5, 2025, seeking to overturn an April 30 order that bars Apple from charging commissions on web purchases made outside its platform.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, found Apple had knowingly and willfully imposed a 27% commission on external purchases—despite the injunction's clear intent to prevent such behavior. The court held that Apple's approach was designed to preserve its App Store revenue stream at the expense of developer rights and user choice.

In her 80-page order, Judge Rogers sharply criticized Apple for obstructing compliance with the original injunction, stating the company had deliberately created friction for developers attempting to link users to alternative payment methods. Internal documents revealed that Apple executives, including Vice President of Finance Alex Roman and CEO Tim Cook, prioritized preserving commissions even amid legal warnings from within the company. The court accused Roman of lying under oath and referred both him and Apple to federal prosecutors for potential criminal contempt.


"This is an injunction, not a negotiation," wrote Judge Rogers, ordering Apple to eliminate all restrictions on how developers can link to external payment options and banning any commissions on those transactions.

Following the ruling, Apple said it would comply while pursuing an appeal. "We strongly disagree with the decision," said Olivia Dalton, Apple's senior director of corporate communications. "We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal."

That appeal is now officially underway.

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