Apple Moves US Supreme Court In Major App Store Dispute With Epic Games

Apple has approached the United States Supreme Court challenging a contempt ruling passed in its long-running legal battle with Epic Games over App Store payment restrictions.

The dispute traces back to Epic Games’ 2020 lawsuit accusing Apple of maintaining excessive control over app distribution and in-app payments on iOS devices. Although most of Epic’s claims were rejected, a federal court had directed Apple in 2021 to allow developers to include links redirecting users to alternative payment methods outside the App Store ecosystem.

In response to that injunction, Apple permitted external payment links but introduced new conditions, including a 27% commission on purchases made through third-party payment systems within seven days of a user clicking such a link. Epic argued that the new policy effectively defeated the purpose of the injunction and continued Apple’s anti-competitive control over app transactions.

A trial court later held Apple in civil contempt, finding that the company’s revised rules violated the spirit and intent of the earlier injunction. Apple has now asked the US Supreme Court to review that ruling.

Before the Supreme Court, Apple has raised two principal arguments. First, it contends that the injunction should apply only to Epic Games and not to millions of developers using the App Store, since the case was not filed as a class action. Second, Apple argues that it cannot be punished for violating the “spirit” of an injunction when the challenged conduct was not expressly prohibited by the court’s original order.

Epic Games criticised Apple’s move, describing the appeal as an attempt to delay meaningful competition in app-based payment systems. According to Epic, Apple’s continued resistance prevents developers and consumers from benefiting from alternative payment options outside Apple’s ecosystem.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had earlier upheld the contempt finding against Apple, though it allowed the company to continue arguing before the trial court regarding what level of commission, if any, could still be charged on transactions processed through external payment systems.

Notably, the US Supreme Court had earlier refused Apple’s request to pause the lower court proceedings while the appeal process continued.

The case remains one of the most closely watched global technology disputes concerning platform control, digital marketplaces, app store commissions, and competition law in the technology sector.