US Supreme Court Declines to Hear Apple vs. Epic Games Case

The United States Supreme Court today declined to hear separate requests from both Apple and Epic Games in their long-standing lawsuit against each other with regards to App Store rules.

app store blue banner epic 1
Apple made the request in September 2023, asking the Supreme Court to hear its appeal about the portion of its legal dispute that was ruled in Epic's favor. This was Apple's so-called "anti-steering" rule that bars developers of many iOS apps from directing users to methods of purchase available outside of the ‌App Store‌, circumventing Apple's revenue cut.

The Supreme Court also declined to hear a request from Epic Games to make a ruling on the case. The Supreme Court was the last stop for ‌Epic Games‌ after it lost an appeal earlier this year. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in April 2023 sided with the lower court and ruled that Apple's ‌App Store‌ rules do not violate antitrust law by not allowing for third-party marketplaces.

The dispute between Apple and Epic dates back to 2020 with Epic seeking to overturn Apple's ‌App Store‌ rules requiring content purchases within iOS apps to go through Apple, which takes a 15% to 30% cut of the revenue.

In multiple rounds of the dispute, Apple has won on every count with the exception of just one regarding Apple's "anti-steering" rule. In July 2023, a judge ruled that Apple did not have to make changes to its policies.

As a result of the Supreme Court's decision today, the previous rulings stand and Apple is able to continue to disallow third-party payment processing within apps, but will have to allow developers to inform users about other purchasing options outside of the ‌App Store‌.

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Top Rated Comments

spazzcat Avatar
22 months ago

I think this was the right decision but I would've liked the SCOTUS to rule on it so the case can be settled.
It is settled now.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
22 months ago

As a result of the Supreme Court's decision today, the previous rulings stand and Apple is able to continue to disallow third-party payment processing within apps
Great news! While anyone can get hacked I trust the Apple payment processor far more than some no-name discount outfit an indy dev might use to save $$. Epic, most likely, wouldn't cheap out but others will.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bayportbob Avatar
22 months ago
until something really happens that would change my mind on this topic, I believe the Supreme Court made the correct determination on this matter...
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spazzcat Avatar
22 months ago

so this is finally over?

like, finally?

glad to see it. Epic chose a battle stupid enough to live up to the company name, lost, tried every single legal avenue available to reverse that, and still lost. been quite the 4-year trip.
And they lost millions in App Store revenue. Their CEO should be fired.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spazzcat Avatar
22 months ago

The Supreme Court gets far more appeals than they can handle. Denials to hear are because they agree with the lower court's ruling, lack of time, or both. I don't know what the deal is with either of these appeals. Although these appeals are settled, case law isn't settled until the Supreme Court rules.
Declining to hear is a ruling, they are ruling the lower court is correct.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
phenste Avatar
22 months ago
so this is finally over?

like, finally?

glad to see it. Epic chose a battle stupid enough to live up to the company name, lost, tried every single legal avenue available to reverse that, and still lost. been quite the 4-year trip.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)