Apple hit with lawsuit over alleged noncompliance with court order

Apple is facing a new class-action lawsuit from developers, accusing the company of deliberately circumventing a U.S. court ruling that required it to allow alternative payment methods in iOS apps.

The case, filed by law firm Hagens Berman, claims Apple failed to comply with a court order issued last month by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, which barred the company from collecting commissions or restricting users from accessing third-party payment options. Developers argue that Apple’s newly implemented App Store policies render external payments ineffective — due to technical complexity and the imposition of new fees.

The lead plaintiff is Pure Sweat Basketball, a sports training app that still cannot sell subscriptions directly despite the ruling. The lawsuit alleges that more than 100,000 developers have been harmed by Apple’s continued collection of commissions on transactions the company is no longer legally entitled to.

Following its previous loss in court, Apple publicly announced it would allow payments outside the App Store. However, critics say the company undermined the ruling by quietly updating its terms — requiring developers to continue paying Apple a share of revenue, even from off-platform purchases.

Hagens Berman, which previously won a $100 million settlement against Apple to support smaller developers, now accuses the company of simulating compliance rather than implementing real reforms. Apple has appealed the court’s decision and maintains it is following all legal requirements.