Apple is pushing back against a court’s strict order in its ongoing legal clash with Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite. The company filed an appeal on June 24, 2025, asking the Ninth Circuit Court to overturn a decision that stops Apple from charging fees on in-app purchases made outside its App Store.
Apple also wants a new judge if the case returns to the lower court, arguing the current judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, might not be fair due to past rulings. The fight started in 2021 when Epic won a court order allowing developers to guide users to other payment options.
However, in April 2025, Judge Rogers found Apple didn’t follow this order and was acting unfairly by still charging a 27% fee on outside payments. She issued a stronger rule, banning Apple from collecting any fees on these transactions, calling it a punishment for not obeying the court.
Apple says this new rule goes too far, hurts its business, and isn’t fair under California law or the U.S. Constitution. The company argues it has spent years building a safe and trusted App Store, and this order could harm users and developers.
Epic Games, meanwhile, stayed quiet on the latest appeal. Apple’s appeal aims to protect its control over the App Store while keeping the platform secure. The outcome could shape how app stores work and affect developers and users alike.