Epic Games Files New Appeal with the US Supreme Court Against Apple

In a recent development, Epic Games has petitioned the US Supreme Court to review a prior ruling that exonerated Apple from breaching antitrust laws governing its App Store. The original appeal, filed in July, sought to prevent Apple from restricting developers' ability to direct users to external payment systems, but was rejected in August. Epic Games is now seeking a ruling on the broader implications of antitrust legislation, specifically whether a less restrictive alternative must be devoid of costs to Apple, such as the 30% commission it currently imposes. Apple has been given a deadline of September 28 to respond to Epic's latest petition. The Supreme Court is anticipated to decide whether to accept the case by the end of the year. This development is the latest in an ongoing legal dispute between Epic and Apple, with the US Ninth Circuit of Appeals having previously upheld a 2021 ruling that Apple's App Store policies did not contravene federal law, although it did find Apple in violation of California law for anti-steering practices. Apple has also filed a counter-appeal with the Supreme Court, contesting the authority of federal courts. For a comprehensive overview of the Epic-Apple legal battle, please refer to our in-depth coverage.