Supreme Court will hear Apple's appeal over App Store contempt finding in Epic case

Key Points:

• The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear Apple’s appeal regarding a contempt finding in its ongoing legal battle with Epic Games over App Store fees, with arguments set for the term beginning in October 2026.
• The dispute originated in 2020 when Epic sued Apple after Fortnite was removed from the App Store; courts ruled Apple must allow developers to direct users to alternative payment methods outside the App Store.
• Apple complied but imposed a 27% commission on payments made through external links, which Epic argued violated the court order; a lower court found Apple in contempt and barred such commissions, a decision partially upheld and modified by the Ninth Circuit.
• The Supreme Court will review the appropriate commission Apple may charge for coordinating external payments but will not address the broader injunction’s scope, which applies globally to all developers.
• The case’s outcome could significantly impact Apple’s App Store fee policies worldwide and influence regulatory actions in multiple countries; a ruling is expected by June 2027 after nearly seven years of litigation.