Apple has filed its first brief with the US Supreme Court, seeking to overturn a contempt of court ruling that forced changes to App Store policies. The dispute stems from a 2020 legal battle with Epic Games. While Apple was not found to have violated antitrust laws initially, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered the company to allow developers to direct users to external payment options.
Following the ruling, Apple implemented a 12% to 27% fee on transactions made through external links. Epic Games challenged this, and in April 2025, the judge ruled that Apple was in contempt of court, prohibiting the company from collecting fees on such purchases. Apple appealed this decision, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling.
Apple argues that the original injunction, which consisted of only 75 words, did not explicitly forbid the collection of these fees. The company contends that it cannot be held in civil contempt for violating the spirit of an injunction rather than its specific language. Apple cites legal precedents dating back to 1885 to support its position.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in 2027. Epic Games is scheduled to submit its response brief in November. Meanwhile, Apple will return to the district court to participate in fee calculations. If the Supreme Court does not overturn the contempt ruling, the current fee structure and anti-steering orders will remain in effect.
