Apple moves US Supreme Court after being held in contempt over App store fees

Apple has asked the US Supreme Court to review a ruling holding it in civil contempt over App Store payment rules. The move extends its fight with Epic Games over whether developers can steer users to rival payment options.

In Short

• Epic sued Apple in 2020 over in-app payments and iOS distribution controls
• A 2021 order let developers add links to outside payment systems
• Apple imposed a 27% fee on some purchases completed externally

iPhone maker Apple has approached the US Supreme Court to challenge a lower court ruling that found the company in civil contempt over its App Store payment policies, escalating its long-running legal battle with Epic Games.

The dispute dates back to 2020, when Epic Games — the maker of the popular video game Fortnite — sued Apple over its control of in-app payments and restrictions on how applications are distributed through the iOS ecosystem.

Although the court largely rejected Epic’s broader antitrust claims in 2021, it ordered Apple to allow app developers to include links directing users to alternative payment systems outside the App Store.

Apple later implemented the change but introduced new conditions, including a 27% commission on purchases made through external payment methods if users completed transactions within seven days of clicking an in-app link.

Epic argued that the fee structure violated the spirit of the original injunction and accused Apple of undermining the court’s order. In 2025, a federal judge agreed and held Apple in civil contempt.

In its latest appeal before the Supreme Court, Apple has argued that the injunction should not apply universally to millions of developers because Epic Games was the sole plaintiff in the case and the lawsuit was not filed as a class action.

The company has also argued that it cannot be punished for violating the “spirit” of an order when the conduct in question was not explicitly prohibited by the injunction itself.

Apple has denied wrongdoing and maintains that it has complied with all court directives.

Epic Games, however, accused Apple of attempting to delay meaningful competition in the digital payments market. In a statement, the company described Apple’s Supreme Court challenge as a final attempt to avoid opening the App Store ecosystem to broader payment competition that could benefit consumers and developers.

The legal fight has already seen multiple rounds in appellate courts. In December, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the contempt ruling against Apple but allowed the company to continue arguing before the trial court about what level of commission, if any, it should be allowed to charge on purchases made through third-party payment systems.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court also rejected Apple’s request to temporarily halt lower court proceedings while the appeal process continues.

- Ends
With inputs from Reuters