The Supreme Courtroom has denied a request from Apple to pause a mandated return to District Courtroom with Epic whereas it contends with its appeals. So, it faces a battle on two fronts in any case.
The brand new resolution is the newest defeat for Apple that has resulted from the 2020 lawsuit towards Epic. Apple received the nice majority of that case, but it’s nonetheless embroiled in authorized battles over it.
On Monday, Might 4, 2026, Apple requested the Supreme Courtroom for a keep on a mandate that noticed it required to fulfill with Epic Video games in courtroom to barter a brand new fee charge. Based on Reuters, that request has now been denied by Justice Elena Kagan.
Beforehand, Choose Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the District Courtroom had dominated that Apple was in contempt of an injunction that required Apple to finish its anti-steering practices. Consequently, since April 2025, Apple has been compelled to take no fee on these exterior purchases.
Later, the Circuit Courtroom dominated that Apple was certainly allowed to cost a fee on exterior purchases, however that it and Epic must determine on the speed in courtroom. After some forwards and backwards, Apple should now face the Supreme Courtroom with its appeals and the District Courtroom on the identical time.
Within the meantime, Apple will proceed to take zero cash when iPhone customers buy sure additional options by linking out of the App Retailer to builders’ websites. It hasn’t collected a fee on exterior purchases because the authentic injunction violation was filed in April 2025.
Apple vs Epic continues. Picture supply: Epic Video games
Apple had hoped to have the decrease courts facet of the case paused whereas it ready its appeals to the Supreme Courtroom. The corporate had argued that:
A keep is now wanted earlier than Apple is compelled to litigate its fee charge underneath an faulty and prejudicial contempt label— in proceedings that might reshape the worldwide app market— earlier than this Courtroom can contemplate whether or not to grant evaluation.
Regardless that the keep wasn’t granted, there’s nonetheless some hope that Apple might get its appeals via the Supreme Courtroom earlier than the District Courts arrive at any resolution. If the Supreme Courtroom agrees with Apple’s scope enchantment, it might imply solely having to make adjustments for Epic and never all builders.
If the Supreme Courtroom additionally agrees that utilizing the spirit of the legislation to name for an injunction violation is not allowed, the battle within the District Courtroom will not be required in any respect. All of it hinges on which courtroom strikes quicker at this level.
How Apple acquired right here
It is now six years since Epic Video games selected to make Apple throw its “Fortnite” recreation off the App Retailer and so start an extended authorized battle. Although Apple received that battle general, there was a single depend within the case that went in Epic’s favor.
That was regarding how Apple then prevented app builders from directing customers to alternative routes to pay, comparable to via particular affords on their web site. Apple was ordered to alter this, and would declare that it did.
Nevertheless, Epic Video games has argued that Apple has flouted the spirit of the legislation. In April 2025, Choose Gonzalez Rogers agreed, and referred to as Apple’s strikes a “gross miscalculation” of what the courtroom would settle for.
