Supreme Court to hear Apple’s appeal of Epic’s “contempt” ruling over App Store commission

• The Supreme Court of the United States will review Apple’s appeal of a ruling on contempt regarding a dispute over Epic Games’ App Store commission.
• The case began in 2021: Apple reduced its legal fees, but the company’s commission was still reduced by 27%, which Epic challenged by filing a contempt lawsuit.
• The ruling came about in 2027, when the court found that Apple’s “contempt” punishment should be enforced, and the Supreme Court will hear the appeal.

For the background, see Ars Technica and The Next Web.

In a written order, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review Apple’s appeal concerning the (contempt) ruling in a dispute with Epic Games over the App Store commission. The court previously rejected any details of the case, saying that it could not determine in advance whether the “contempt” ruling should be enforced, as the matter was still ongoing.

Epic filed a lawsuit in 2020, after it was removed from the App Store for violating the rules by distributing Fortnite. In Apple v. Epic (No 25-1311), Judge John Gonzales ruled that Apple’s actions were not unlawful, but the court found that Apple had violated federal antitrust laws by enforcing a ban on App Store competition. The court ordered Apple to pay the fine.

In its appeal, Apple argued that the contempt ruling was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law and that the company should not be punished for actions that were legal at the time. Epic, in turn, said that the new commission fee was still unlawful and that Apple should be held accountable. In 2025, Judge John Gonzales ruled that Apple must comply with the court’s order and pay the fine.

In 2025, Apple appealed the contempt ruling, arguing that the commission changes were made in accordance with the court’s decision. Apple also said that the result could be overturned, and the company should be allowed to continue operating under the new rules. The Supreme Court will consider whether the ruling should be enforced.

Tags: USA/Technology