Facts of the Case
In its long-running dispute with Epic Games over App Store rules, Apple was enjoined in 2021 from enforcing anti-steering provisions that blocked developers from directing users to purchasing options outside the App Store. After Apple responded by permitting external purchase links while imposing a 27% commission on them, the district court held Apple in civil contempt in 2025, finding its compliance program violated the injunction, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed. Apple petitioned the Supreme Court, and certiorari was granted on June 30, 2026.
Questions
May a court hold a party in civil contempt for violating the "spirit" of an injunction that does not explicitly address the conduct at issue, or must a contempt finding rest on an order that clearly and unambiguously prohibits the precise conduct in question?
Apple's App Store Injunction is Less Than Epic
If you were to go by the recent coverage of the Epic v. Apple decision, you would...
