05:44 AM EDT, 05/01/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Apple ( AAPL ) violated a 2021 court order requiring it to allow third-party payment options in its App Store and to stop charging commissions on purchases outside its software marketplace, media outlets reported Wednesday, citing a federal judge.

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that the company failed to comply and referred the case to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation, the reports said.

The decision, part of the ongoing legal fight with Fortnite developer Epic Games, could cut deeply into Apple's ( AAPL ) App Store revenue, according to the reports.

Although Apple ( AAPL ) allowed external payment links, it still charged a 27% fee, which the judge said was an attempt to evade the original order, the reports said.

Meanwhile, Apple ( AAPL ) told Bloomberg it will comply with the court's order but plans to appeal the ruling.

Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.