US Supreme Court to hear Apple appeal in Epic Games App Store dispute

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The US Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear Apple’s appeal seeking to overturn a contempt ruling in its long-running legal battle with “Fortnite” maker Epic Games over changes ordered for the iPhone maker’s App Store.

The justices will review Apple’s challenge against a lower court decision that upheld a ruling by Oakland, California-based US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who found Apple in contempt for violating a court order issued during Epic’s 2020 antitrust lawsuit over App Store fees.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case during its next term, beginning in October.

Apple has argued that it cannot be held in contempt for allegedly violating the “spirit” of a court injunction rather than an explicit requirement. The company has denied breaching any court orders and said the case raises an important legal issue.

Epic Games, meanwhile, said it would continue challenging what it described as Apple’s “junk fees” on third-party payment systems. The company argued that lower courts correctly determined Apple’s practices were illegal and anti-competitive.

The dispute centers on Apple’s control over in-app payments and restrictions on how applications are distributed through its iOS operating system. While Apple largely prevailed in the original lawsuit, a 2021 court order required the company to allow developers to include links directing users to alternative payment options outside the App Store.

Apple permitted such links but introduced new restrictions, including a 27% commission on purchases made through external payment systems within seven days of users clicking those links. Apple’s standard App Store commission ranges between 15% and 30%, although the company says many developers do not pay any commission.

Epic argued that the 27% fee violated the court’s order. In 2025, Judge Rogers found Apple in civil contempt, a decision later upheld by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

The appeals court allowed Apple to present new arguments regarding what commission rates it could charge for digital purchases made through third-party payment systems. However, the Supreme Court will not consider Apple’s separate argument that the injunction should apply only to Epic Games rather than millions of developers.

Apple said the outcome of the case could affect how millions of app purchases are processed worldwide, with regulators closely watching the decision to determine how much commission Apple can charge in major markets outside the US.