Apple Asks Supreme Court to Review Contempt Ruling in Epic Games Dispute
The firm is challenging a contempt ruling in its ongoing App Store legal battle with Epic Games over payment rules and commissions.
Staff WriterMay 26, 2026, 11:16 AMApple has asked the US Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that found the company in civil contempt over fees it imposed on certain external purchases made by users of its App Store.
The petition marks a fresh escalation in its long-running legal dispute with Epic Games, which first sued Apple in 2020 seeking to loosen its control over in-app transactions and the distribution of applications on the iOS operating system.
Although a judge largely dismissed Epic Games’ original lawsuit, the court issued an injunction in 2021 requiring Apple to allow developers to include links within their apps directing users to alternative, non-Apple payment methods.
Apple subsequently complied by permitting such links but introduced new restrictions, including a 27 per cent commission on purchases made via external payment systems within seven days of a user clicking those links.
Epic Games argued that this commission effectively violated the intent of the injunction. In 2025, a judge agreed and found Apple in civil contempt for breaching the order.
In its filing on Thursday, Apple urged the Supreme Court to consider two key legal questions. It argued that the injunction should not extend to millions of developers because Epic Games is the sole plaintiff and the case is not a class action.
The company also contended that it should not be held in contempt for allegedly violating the “spirit” of an injunction that did not explicitly prohibit the conduct in question.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it is complying with all court orders.
In response, Epic Games said Apple’s Supreme Court challenge was “one last Hail Mary” to delay the conclusion of the case and avoid opening up greater competition in payment systems, which it argues would benefit consumers.
In December, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the contempt finding but allowed Apple to raise further arguments in the trial court regarding the commission it may charge for digital goods purchased in apps distributed through the App Store but paid for via third-party systems.
Earlier in May, the Supreme Court rejected Apple’s request to pause lower court proceedings while its appeal continues.
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