Apple May Face Criminal Charges for Allegedly Lying to a Federal Judge
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Judge Holds Apple in Contempt for App Store Violations
Above: The Epic Games logo is being displayed on a smartphone with the Apple App Store icon. Image copyright: Jonathan Raa/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This ruling finally forces Apple to compete fairly in the digital marketplace. The 27% commission was a transparent attempt to maintain Apple's supracompetitive margins while appearing to comply with the court order. The court has dramatically altered the risk calculus for dominant platforms in the digital economy by establishing that rent-seeking behaviors warrant civil penalties and potential criminal consequences.
Establishment-critical narrative
Apple's App Store policies protect consumers while providing a secure platform for developers. The company has legitimate business interests in maintaining quality control and security over transactions that originate on its platform. The court's decision fails to recognize the significant value Apple provides through its ecosystem and the investments required to maintain it, potentially undermining innovation and consumer protection in the long run.