The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday, June 30, to review Apple's appeal in its long running antitrust fight with Epic Games, taking up the question of whether Apple should be held in contempt for how it responded to a court order reshaping App Store rules. The case will land on the court's docket when its next term opens in October.
At a Glance
- Supreme Court agreed on June 30, 2025 to hear Apple's appeal
- Case stems from a 2021 injunction in Epic Games' 2020 antitrust lawsuit
- Apple charges a 30 percent commission in app, 27 percent for outside links used within seven days
- 9th Circuit upheld a contempt finding against Apple in December 2024
- Arguments expected in the Supreme Court's term starting October 2025
How the Fight Started
Epic Games, the North Carolina company behind Fortnite, sued Apple in 2020 over the fees and restrictions Apple places on how apps are sold and how payments move through iPhones. Apple won most of that case, but U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland ordered one significant change: developers had to be allowed to put links inside their apps sending customers to payment options outside Apple's own system.
Apple technically complied. It let the links appear, but it also rolled out a new fee structure that undercut the practical effect of the order. Anyone who clicked one of those links and completed a purchase within seven days would still owe Apple a 27 percent commission, just three points below the standard 30 percent it collects on purchases made entirely inside the App Store.
Why a Judge Called It Contempt
Epic went back to court arguing that Apple's new commission scheme was just the old restriction wearing a different outfit. Judge Rogers agreed in 2025, finding Apple in civil contempt for violating her earlier injunction. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed her up in December, though it gave Apple room to make fresh arguments in the lower court about what commission, if any, it can charge on digital purchases made through outside payment systems. That follow up fight has not started yet in Oakland.
Apple isn't conceding anything. The company says it never violated the order and is pushing back hard on the idea that the injunction should bind every developer who works with the App Store, not just Epic. In its filing with the Supreme Court, Apple pointed to the global stakes, noting that regulators in other countries are watching closely to see what commission rate gets locked in for purchases in markets far larger than the United States alone.
What Happens Next
The justices haven't set a date yet, but the case will be argued sometime after the term begins in October. Whatever the court decides will ripple beyond this one dispute. Apple has said the outcome could shape how millions of app transactions get processed and priced, since the App Store's commission structure touches nearly every developer building for iPhone.
Two Companies, One Long Running Dispute
Epic and Apple have been at odds for years, and this contempt fight is just the newest chapter. Unlike the original 2020 case, which centered on whether Apple's fee structure violated antitrust law, this round is narrower: it's about whether Apple actually followed the court's order or found a clever way around it. That distinction matters because a contempt ruling carries different consequences than a straightforward antitrust loss, and it puts Apple's compliance, not just its business practices, under direct judicial scrutiny.
Where This Leaves Developers
For now, nothing changes for the app makers caught in the middle. Apple's 27 percent commission on outside links remains in place while the legal process plays out, and any broader relief tied to the 9th Circuit's decision on alternative payment commissions is on hold until the Oakland court takes it up. Developers hoping for cheaper payment processing options will need to wait for both the Supreme Court's ruling and whatever comes after in the lower court.