Epic Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Apple Contempt Ruling
Epic Games' filing defends a lower-court finding that Apple violated an injunction over App Store payment rules.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in eSports
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Epic Games has filed its response asking the Supreme Court to uphold a civil contempt ruling against Apple, which found Apple violated the original injunction barring it from blocking developers from directing users to alternative payment methods. Apple has until December 14 to submit its final brief before oral arguments on January 11, 2027.
Why it matters
The case tests whether Apple's 27% commission on external purchases and new payment-link restrictions fall within the scope of the original injunction. The outcome could shape how app platforms may charge developers for purchases made outside their stores.
Apple's 27% commission on external purchases compares with its standard 30% In-App Purchase commission, and Apple has asserted privilege over more than 57,000 documents in the case. Whether the original injunction covered these fees remains before the Supreme Court, with oral arguments set for January 11, 2027.
The players
Epic Games
A video game developer and publisher best known for the battle royale title Fortnite, which has pursued legal challenges against app store fee structures.
Apple
The technology company that operates the App Store, whose commission and payment policies for in-app purchases have drawn scrutiny from developers and regulators.
Supreme Court of the United States
The nation's highest court, which agreed to hear Apple's appeal of the contempt ruling and will hear oral arguments in January 2027.
The details
Epic sued Apple in 2020 after Fortnite was removed from the App Store, then remotely activated an alternative payment system that bypassed Apple's In-App Purchase system. A court later held Apple in civil contempt, finding that its new rules violated the injunction, and Apple appealed to the Supreme Court in May, which agreed in June to hear the case. Apple argues the injunction did not explicitly prohibit its fees or payment-link limits, while Epic contends Apple introduced new rules designed to achieve the same prohibited result.
Timeline
2020: Epic sues Apple after Fortnite is removed from the App Store.
May 2026: Apple appeals the contempt ruling to the Supreme Court.
June 2026: The Supreme Court agrees to hear the case.
September 2026: Apple submits its opening brief.
November 13, 2026: Epic files its response urging the contempt ruling be upheld.
Season Trajectory
This filing extends Epic's 2020 lawsuit, which began when Fortnite was removed from the App Store, into a Supreme Court test of how far Apple's injunction reaches. The court's eventual ruling on the 27% commission and payment-link rules will set the next phase of the dispute between the two companies.
Developers who sell in-game items through Fortnite and similar titles could see their payment costs change depending on whether Apple's 27% external commission stands. The Supreme Court's decision will determine whether players can keep buying in-app items through outside payment links.
The takeaway
Platform fee rules that look like technical details can decide how much developers keep from each sale, so the Supreme Court's reading of the injunction matters beyond these two companies. Developers and players tracking app store costs should watch the January 11, 2027 arguments for signals on external payment links.
What happens next
Apple's final brief is due December 14, 2026, and oral arguments before the Supreme Court are scheduled for January 11, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on the eSports coverage that tracks disputes like this one between platforms and developers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 9to5Mac.
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