Apple has officially filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a civil contempt ruling related to its App Store policies. The dispute stems from a 2021 injunction by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, which required Apple to allow developers to include links to external payment methods. Apple subsequently implemented a commission fee of 12% to 27% on these transactions.
Following a legal challenge by Epic Games, Judge Rogers ruled in April 2025 that Apple violated the injunction and held the company in contempt, banning all commissions on external links in the U.S. App Store. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision, leading Apple to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. Apple argues that the original injunction lacked specific language regarding commissions.
In its brief, Apple cites legal precedents dating back to 1885, arguing that courts cannot hold parties in contempt based on the perceived spirit of an injunction rather than its explicit terms. The company notes that the original 75-word injunction did not mention commission rates. Apple claims that the lower court's ruling exceeds judicial authority and contradicts established legal standards.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in 2027. Epic Games is scheduled to submit its response brief in November of this year, followed by a rebuttal from Apple. Meanwhile, the Ninth Circuit has remanded the case to the lower court to determine a reasonable commission rate for external links, as the total ban on fees was deemed excessive by the appellate court.
