Supreme Court to Hear Apple Contempt Appeal in Epic Games Case
The justices agreed to take up Apple's bid to overturn a contempt ruling tied to its App Store antitrust fight with Epic Games.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to review Apple's appeal of a contempt finding stemming from its long-running antitrust battle with Epic Games, the maker of "Fortnite." The high court's decision to take the case means justices will weigh whether Apple violated a judicial order requiring significant changes to how it operates its App Store — one of the company's most profitable business lines.
The contempt ruling originated with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, based in Oakland, California, who determined Apple had failed to comply with her order in Epic's 2020 lawsuit challenging the fees Apple charges developers through its App Store. A lower appellate court upheld that finding, prompting Apple to escalate the dispute to the nation's highest court.
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The Supreme Court is expected to schedule oral arguments during its next term, which opens in October. The outcome could carry major consequences for how Apple structures its App Store payments and the degree to which courts can enforce compliance orders against major tech platforms in antitrust cases.
The dispute between Apple and Epic has been one of the most closely watched tech-antitrust confrontations in recent years, touching on fundamental questions about whether dominant app marketplaces stifle competition. A ruling in Apple's favor could limit courts' contempt powers over big tech firms, while a ruling against Apple could force more immediate, concrete changes to its business model.
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