Judge asks Apple why it believes it has legal authority to ignore injunction

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The US judge in the Epic Games vs. Apple case has asked the iPhone giant why it believes it can ignore the court’s order to offer linkouts to alternative payments in Fortnite.

Apple has asked for a stay while it appeals the recent landmark ruling from a US court that opened up the App Store to other payment systems and prevents anti-steering measures. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers gave a scathing assessment of Apple’s “anticompetitive” behaviour and even accused one of its executives of lying under oath.

In the meantime, Apple has blocked new updates to Fortnite on iOS, preventing its return. Apple has also claimed Epic previously broke its rules and had its developer account terminated as a result.

In a response to Epic’s motion to enforce the injunction, the judge has asked Apple to show cause as to why the motion should not be granted.

“Obviously, Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing,” read a statement.

If the issue is not resolved, an Apple official who is “personally responsible for ensuring compliance” must appear at a hearing set for Tuesday, May 27th.

Any opposition to the court’s notice must be filed by Wednesday, May 21st.

“Gross miscalculation”

Previously the Judge said Apple had “willfully chose not to comply with this court’s injunction”.

“It did so with the express intent to create new anticompetitive barriers which would, by design and in effect, maintain a valued revenue stream; a revenue stream previously found to be anticompetitive. That it thought this Court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation. As always, the cover-up made it worse. For this Court, there is no second bite at the apple.”

A recent guest post on PocketGamer.biz by Futura Digital suggested it would be hard for Apple’s appeal of the decision to succeed.