Apple asks the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse or vacate a contempt order that found it violated an injunction related to its App Store “anti-steering” rules in its long-running dispute with Epic Games. The request is part of Apple’s effort to undo the court-imposed requirement to change how developers can link to alternative purchase options in apps, and to address what Apple calls an improper finding of contempt.
The underlying case has been active since 2020, with earlier proceedings largely favoring Apple on antitrust claims. After a judge ordered Apple to loosen anti-steering restrictions, Apple complied but later implemented a link-out fee structure. Epic then argued Apple violated the injunction, leading the judge to find Apple in contempt in April 2025 and to bar Apple from collecting fees on purchases made through links in the U.S. App Store. Both Apple’s filings and commentary from outlets say the Supreme Court question centers on whether a party can be held in civil contempt for violating the “spirit” of an injunction when the injunction’s wording did not clearly cover the conduct at issue.
Apple also faces further proceedings on fee calculations if the contempt ruling stands. Apple maintains that the contempt and related limits exceeded the District Court’s scope, while the dispute continues through appellate steps, with the Supreme Court expected to hear the matter after the resumption of hearings.
