United States of America: Lawsuit alleging anticompetitive behaviour (Epic Games v Apple)
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Timeline of events
Supreme Court denied Apple's application to stay Ninth Circuit mandate in Epic Games v Apple over civil contempt finding and commission rate on linked-out purchases
On 6 May 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States denied Apple's application to stay the Ninth Circuit mandate in Epic Games v Apple (No. 25A1213). Apple had filed the application on 4 May 2026, following the Ninth Circuit's 11 December 2025 rul…
Epic Games filed response opposing Apple's application to Supreme Court to stay Ninth Circuit mandate in Epic Games v Apple over civil contempt finding and commission rate on linked-out purchases
On 5 May 2026, Epic Games filed its response to Apple's application for a stay of the Ninth Circuit mandate in Epic Games v Apple (No. 25A1213), which Apple had filed on 4 May 2026. Apple's application had followed the Ninth Circuit's 11 December 20…
Apple applied to Supreme Court to stay Ninth Circuit mandate pending certiorari in Epic Games v Apple over civil contempt finding and commission rate on linked-out purchases
On 4 May 2026, Apple filed an application in the Supreme Court of the United States, directed to the Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit, to stay the issuance of the Ninth Circuit mandate in Epic Games v Apple (No. 25A1213) pending the filing and …
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued ruling in Epic Games v Apple affirming civil contempt finding and remanding on commission rate on linked-out purchases
On 11 December 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its ruling in Epic Games v Apple (No. 25-2935), affirming the district court's civil contempt finding against Apple and substantially affirming the 30 April 2025 ru…
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denies motion for partial stay pending appeal in Epic Games v Apple
On 4 June 2025, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied Apple Inc.’s emergency motion for a partial stay pending appeal in the case Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc. (No. 25-2935). The court considered factors for granting a stay, specific…
District Court for the Northern District of California issued its ruling in Epic Games v Apple holding Apple in civil contempt and imposing restrictions on linked-out purchases
On 30 April 2025, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued its ruling in Epic Games v Apple (Epic III), 781 F. Supp. 3d 943 (N.D. Cal. 2025), holding Apple in civil contempt for noncompliance with the Injunctio…
Filed Epic Games petition for a writ of certiorari to Supreme Court of the United States to review the judgment of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit against Apple
On 27 September 2023, Epic Games Inc. (Epic) filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States to review the judgment of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit of 24 April 2023 regarding the civil lawsuit aga…
Filed Apple petition for a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States to review the judgment of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit against Epic Games
On 27 September 2023, Apple Inc. (Apple) filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States to review the judgment of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit of 24 April 2023 regarding the civil lawsuit against…
Upheld postponement of implementation of a ruling requiring termination of anti-steering rules within the App Store until Supreme Court decision on the appeal
On 9 August 2023, the US Supreme Court upheld the decision to delay the removal of Apple's anti-steering regulations in the App Store. This ruling was initially made by the Court of Appeal in July. The Supreme Court dismissed an emergency request fr…
Postponed implementation of a ruling requiring termination of anti-steering rules within the App Store until Supreme Court decision on the appeal
On 17 July 2023, the Court of Appeal postponed the abolition of Apple's anti-steering rules within the App Store. In a previous ruling, it was determined that app developers should have the ability to include links within their applications that dir…
Issued Court of Appels ruling in Epic Games Inc. v. Apple Inc.
On 24 April 2023, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its ruling concerning Epic Games Inc. v. Apple Inc. In August 2020, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple for alleged anticompetitive behaviour. Specifically, Epic Games claim…
Postponement of rule changes within App Store until the end of appeals process
On 8 December 2021, the Court of Appeals ruled to allow the delayment of previously ordered changes to the App Store. Previously, it was ruled that app developers must be allowed to show links within their application to alternative ways to pay for …
Apple appeals verdict and files motion for stay of the permanent injunction
On 8 October 2021, one month after the US District Court for the Northern District of California reached its verdict in the matter Epic Games vs. Apple, Apple filed an appeal in the matter. Apple filed the appeal asking for a stay of the injunction …
Judgement and permanent injunction released which force Apple to allow third-party payment options
On 10 September 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California reached its verdict in the matter Epic Games vs. Apple. It ruled that Epic Games has to pay damages for breach of contract since it violated the AppStore's terms a…