Apple plans Supreme Court appeal in Epic Games App Store battle — again

Apple is gearing up to bring its ongoing legal dispute with Epic Games back to the Supreme Court. In a recent court filing, the tech giant announced its intention to seek a review from the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a specific aspect of the long-standing case concerning App Store fees. This conflict has roots that stretch back to 2020 when Epic Games introduced external payment options within its app to circumvent Apple's App Store fees. While Apple initially triumphed in court in 2021, with a ruling that deemed it not a monopoly, the judge mandated that the company must allow developers to link to outside payment systems. Following this decision, Apple sought to appeal to the Supreme Court, which opted not to take up the case, thereby allowing the Ninth Circuit Court's ruling to prevail. Consequently, Apple began permitting external payments but imposed a 27% commission on developers opting for their own payment processing—a minor reduction from the standard 30% fee. Epic Games contended that this fee structure violated the court's order, arguing that developers were not benefiting financially since payment processing incurs its own costs. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California sided with Epic, declaring Apple in contempt, a ruling later affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in December 2025. The appeals court criticized Apple's 27% fee for undermining the intent of allowing external payments but did not provide a new fee structure. With no further options in the Ninth Circuit, Apple is now shifting its focus to the Supreme Court, where it plans to challenge the legal standards that led to the contempt ruling. The company aims to persuade the justices that it should not face restrictions on the fees it charges for its services. Apple maintains that the 27% fee encompasses more than just payment processing, arguing it reflects the comprehensive value of its App Store ecosystem. However, given the Supreme Court's previous refusal to hear a related appeal from Apple, there is a possibility that this request may also be declined. As the situation progresses, the lower court will decide the appropriate commission Apple can charge for purchases made outside the App Store. The outcome of this legal battle could significantly influence Apple's revenue from the App Store, especially as consumer preferences shift towards AI-driven solutions for transactions and services.