Apple Inc. has recently petitioned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the nationwide injunction and civil contempt order issued in its ongoing antitrust dispute with Epic Games. The company argues that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship undermines the legal foundation of the injunction imposed in the Epic Games case.
The Supreme Court’s ruling addressed the scope of nationwide injunctions, emphasizing that such broad measures should be applied cautiously and are generally inappropriate outside of class-action lawsuits or cases involving state-led challenges. This decision has prompted Apple to contend that the nationwide injunction in its case with Epic Games exceeds the appropriate judicial authority, as it was not part of a class-action suit nor initiated by a state entity.
The legal battle between Apple and Epic Games centers on Apple’s App Store policies, particularly its restrictions on alternative payment methods and the commissions it charges developers. In April 2025, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in contempt for violating a previous injunction that required the company to allow developers to inform users about alternative payment options. The judge’s ruling mandated that Apple cease such conduct and prohibited the company from imposing commissions on off-app purchases. Additionally, Judge Gonzalez Rogers referred Apple to federal prosecutors for potential criminal contempt proceedings, citing misleading court testimony by company executives.
Apple’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit seeks to overturn the injunction and contempt order, arguing that the Supreme Court’s recent decision on nationwide injunctions renders the lower court’s actions inappropriate. The company maintains that the injunction’s broad scope is inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s guidance on the matter.
As the Ninth Circuit considers Apple’s appeal, the outcome could have significant implications for the tech industry, particularly concerning the extent of judicial authority in imposing nationwide injunctions and the ongoing debate over app store policies and antitrust regulations.