U.S. Court Upholds Order Blocking Apple’s Commission Rules in App Store Dispute with Epic

On June 4, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied Apple’s emergency request to halt enforcement of an order requiring changes to its App Store policies. This decision stems from the ongoing legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, known for its game ‘Fortnite.’ The ruling prevents Apple from charging commissions on payment links placed within apps and from dictating their appearance. Major developers like Amazon and Spotify have already modified their apps to bypass Apple’s 15–30% commission by directing users to external payment pages.

Apple argued that this enforcement could cost the company significant revenue and had requested a pause on Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ directive. However, the appellate court found that Apple had not justified a stay. The original case was largely resolved in 2021, but Apple was found in violation of part of that ruling earlier this year, prompting Judge Rogers to issue a more expansive order.

Apple expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and confirmed plans to continue its appeal. Meanwhile, Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the outcome as a major win against Apple’s long-standing commission model. The ruling could significantly alter the economics of app distribution in the U.S. by empowering developers to offer alternative payment routes.