App Store contempt order stays in force after Kagan rejects Apple request
Updated
Updated · SCOTUSblog · May 6
App Store contempt order stays in force after Kagan rejects Apple request
14 articles · Updated · SCOTUSblog · May 6
The Supreme Court justice denied Apple's emergency application on Wednesday, less than an hour after Epic Games filed its opposition and before Apple could submit a reply.
Apple had asked to pause a lower-court contempt ruling tied to App Store restrictions and commissions on purchases made through third-party payment links.
The dispute stems from Epic's antitrust challenge to Apple's in-app payment rules, with Epic arguing Apple's conduct has delayed competition restoration for more than two years.
Could Apple’s loss in court force a global overhaul of its App Store commissions, and what might this mean for the future of app marketplaces?
Will developers and consumers actually benefit from lower App Store fees, or will Apple find new ways to maintain its profits?
Legal Defeat Forces Apple to Justify App Store Commission Amid Global Antitrust Crackdown
Overview
On May 6, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Apple's request to pause a contempt order that found Apple violated a 2021 injunction by imposing a 27% commission and restrictive link rules on external App Store payments. This ruling forces Apple to return to the Oakland district court to establish a lawful, cost-based commission rate, ending its ability to delay compliance. The contempt order, upheld by the Ninth Circuit, also revealed deceptive conduct by Apple executives, leading to potential criminal referrals. Meanwhile, Epic Games' 2020 lawsuit triggered the original injunction, and global regulators, inspired by these U.S. decisions, are intensifying antitrust actions against Apple worldwide.