Key facts
- The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Apple's appeal of a contempt finding in its legal dispute with Epic Games.
- The contempt ruling concerns Apple's violation of a court order mandating changes to its App Store.
- Epic Games sued Apple in 2020, challenging App Store fees and distribution rules.
- A district judge found Apple in civil contempt in 2025 for violating an injunction requiring developers to link to external payment methods.
- Apple implemented a 27% commission on purchases made through external payment systems within seven days of clicking a link, which Epic argued flouted the injunction.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Apple's appeal of a contempt ruling in its long-standing legal battle with Epic Games. The case revolves around Apple's compliance with a judicial order that mandated significant changes to its App Store practices following Epic's 2020 antitrust lawsuit.
Epic Games challenged Apple's control over in-app transactions and app distribution on its iOS operating system. While Apple largely won the lawsuit, a 2021 injunction required the company to allow developers to include links directing users to alternative payment methods. Apple complied by allowing these links but imposed a 27% commission on purchases made through external systems within seven days of a user clicking a link, a move Epic argued violated the injunction.
In 2025, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in civil contempt for this violation. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the contempt finding but allowed Apple to present new arguments regarding commission rates for digital goods purchased via third-party systems outside the App Store. Apple denies violating the order and contends the injunction should not extend beyond Epic Games, stating that global regulators are monitoring the case for its impact on international markets.