Apple has been referred for potential criminal contempt proceedings after a US district judge ruled the company “wilfully” violated an injunction stemming from its high-profile legal battle with Epic Games.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple continued to restrict third-party payment options on its App Store—despite her 2021 order prohibiting such anti-competitive conduct. She referred the matter to the US Attorney for the Northern District of California for possible criminal investigation.

The original injunction was issued after Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, challenged Apple’s up-to-30% commission on in-app purchases, calling it monopolistic. The court had ordered Apple to allow developers to link to alternative payment systems, but Judge Gonzalez Rogers said Apple “chose the most anticompetitive option at every turn.”

In her ruling, the judge accused Apple of introducing a new 27% fee for off-app purchases, erecting further barriers to competition. She also criticized top executives, saying CEO Tim Cook ignored internal calls to comply and accused VP of finance Alex Roman of lying under oath.

Apple responded: “We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court’s order and we will appeal.”

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the judgment and proposed a global truce: if Apple applies the same open payment framework worldwide, Epic will return Fortnite to the App Store globally and drop related litigation.

“NO FEES on web transactions,” Sweeney posted on X. “Game over for the Apple Tax.”