Apple has officially asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review major parts of the Epic Games lawsuit, continuing a legal battle that could reshape App Store payment rules in the United States. The company is challenging the contempt ruling that forced it to allow developers to include external payment links in apps without charging commissions.
The latest Supreme Court filing centers on two key issues. Apple argues that the lower courts improperly expanded the original injunction to apply to all App Store developers, even though Epic Games was the only plaintiff and the lawsuit was not a class action. Apple also says it should not have been held in contempt for violating the “spirit” of the injunction because the original 2021 ruling never explicitly banned commissions on external purchases.
The Apple vs Epic Games case began in 2020 when Epic sued Apple over App Store policies, in-app purchases, and restrictions on alternative payment methods. Although Apple won most parts of the case, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered the company to relax its anti-steering rules and allow developers to direct users to payment options outside the App Store.
Apple later updated its App Store policies to permit external payment links, but introduced commissions ranging from 12% to 27% on purchases made outside the App Store after users clicked those links. Epic Games argued that Apple’s changes violated the court’s order because developers still faced high fees and strict limitations.
In April 2025, Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple was in civil contempt for failing to properly comply with the injunction. Since then, Apple has not been allowed to collect commissions on external payment links for U.S. App Store apps.
Apple’s Supreme Court appeal argues that contempt rulings should only apply when a court order is “clear and unambiguous,” not based on interpretations of intent or the broader “spirit” of an injunction. The company says the lower courts created a dangerous precedent by expanding the meaning of the original ruling.
Apple is also pointing to the recent Trump v. CASA Supreme Court decision, which limited the power of lower courts to issue broad nationwide injunctions. According to Apple, the Epic Games ruling improperly affects millions of developers worldwide despite the lawsuit involving only Epic Games.
Epic Games says Apple is attempting to delay changes that could open the App Store to more payment competition. Epic claims Apple intentionally created restrictive rules and high fees to discourage developers from using external payment systems.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals previously upheld the contempt ruling, though it also said Apple could return to lower courts to argue for reasonable commissions on purchases made through third-party payment systems. Apple had already asked the Supreme Court earlier this month to pause those proceedings, but the request was denied.
The Supreme Court is expected to review Apple’s petition during its June 25 conference. If the justices decide to hear the case, the outcome could have a major impact on App Store rules, developer commissions, and future antitrust disputes involving large technology companies.
