Apple's bid to pause the rollout of new App Store rules collapsed when the Supreme Court denied a stay on May 6 2026. The decision follows a 2020 lawsuit where Apple prevailed on most counts, but a single ruling forced the company to halt commissions on certain external purchases. The latest setback deepens the legal spiral.

The court’s ruling hinges on a June 2025 9th Circuit order that declared Apple in contempt for blocking developers from steering users to outside payment channels. Since April 2025, the company has been required to take no commission on these off‑store transactions, a move that has already shifted revenue flows for thousands of iOS developers.

Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, argues that Apple’s enforcement violates the spirit of the law, labeling the corporation’s actions a “gross miscalculation.” The dispute centers on whether Apple can set a new commission rate for in‑app purchases that route outside the App Store, a question that could reshape the global app economy.

With the Supreme Court rejecting a pause, Apple must comply with the 9th Circuit mandate while it appeals the commission ruling in lower courts. Developers and consumers will feel the impact immediately, as the zero‑commission policy remains in place for external purchases, tightening the revenue gap between Apple and its ecosystem partners.