The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in Apple's Supreme Court appeal regarding a contempt ruling from its legal battle with Epic Games. The DOJ filed a brief arguing that courts should only hold companies in contempt for violating the express terms of an order. This legal position supports the central argument in Apple's appeal.
The case involves a 2025 lower court decision that found Apple in contempt for its App Store payment policies. Apple introduced a 27% commission on outside payment links after a court ordered the company to allow alternative billing. The lower court ruled these restrictions violated the original injunction's intent.
The Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for Apple's challenge in June 2026. The final ruling will impact App Store operations and how federal courts enforce judicial injunctions nationwide.