Apple filed a petition with the Supreme Court to overturn lower‑court rulings that deemed it in contempt over its App Store rules. The move follows a 2021 injunction that barred the company from blocking developers from linking users to outside payment systems, a rule Epic has challenged repeatedly in several legal instances and court sessions.

Apple argues the original injunction never mentioned commissions, only that developers could not block payment links. Ninth Circuit accepted that wording but upheld contempt on the basis that a party can violate the spirit of an order. Apple seeks a Supreme Court reversal, claiming the order must be explicit to impose sanctions in this case.

The appeal centers on whether Apple can charge fees on purchases made outside the App Store. Epic won a 2021 ruling that lifted the blanket ban on external links, but Apple added new fees and restrictions. The district court found Apple in contempt for failing to comply, a decision now under Supreme Court scrutiny today.

If the Supreme Court accepts the case, it could issue a definitive ruling before the summer recess, potentially in late June or early July. A decision would clarify the limits of injunctions against global developer ecosystems and the enforceability of commission policies. The outcome will directly shape App Store economics for developers and users alike.