Apple’s facing serious heat—and this time, it’s not about iPhones or chargers. A federal judge just dropped the hammer on the tech giant for what she calls flat-out dishonesty in court. Let’s break it down.
A Judge Calls It Like She Sees It
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers didn’t hold back. In a recent ruling, she accused Apple of lying—under oath. She said one of Apple’s top executives, Alex Roman, gave false testimony. Roman claimed the company hadn’t picked a 27% commission fee for purchases made outside the App Store until January 2024. But the judge says that’s simply not true.
Documents from Apple’s own records show that the 27% fee had actually been set way back in July 2023. That’s a big difference. And it wasn’t just a slip-up—Gonzalez Rogers called Roman’s testimony full of “misdirection and outright lies.”
More Than Just a Slap on the Wrist
The fallout could get even worse. The judge is now referring the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. That means Apple and Roman could face criminal contempt charges. Translation? This is no longer just a business dispute. It’s a legal bombshell.
Apple, according to the court, didn’t just lie—they defied a direct court order. The judge says the company “willfully chose not to comply” with her injunction. Instead of following the rules, Apple created what she calls “new anticompetitive barriers” to keep their profits flowing.
“No Second Bite at the Apple”
In a sharply worded statement, Judge Gonzalez Rogers didn’t mince words:
“That it thought this Court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation. As always, the cover-up made it worse.”
Why It Matters
This isn’t just courtroom drama. It’s a big moment in the ongoing battle over how much control Apple has over its App Store—and your device. The company’s commission fees have been under fire for years, and this ruling adds even more fuel to that fire.
For developers and users alike, the message is clear: The rules are changing. And even the biggest tech players aren’t above the law.
