Apple Inc. has filed a request with the Supreme Court seeking to halt a Ninth Circuit mandate that could have significant implications for its App Store policies. This request comes after a lower court found the company in contempt of a previous injunction regarding off-App Store purchases, which was issued in 2021.
The District Court's ruling stated that Apple must allow developers to include links to alternative purchasing methods and communicate with customers using contact information obtained in-app. However, it left open the question of whether Apple could charge commissions on these external transactions. Following the injunction, Apple adjusted its App Store guidelines to permit such links while imposing a commission of up to 27%.
This move led to the contempt ruling, as the court concluded that imposing fees violated the intent of the injunction. The Ninth Circuit subsequently intervened, overturning the zero-commission directive and sending the case back to assess the appropriate commission rate. Apple contends that the original injunction affects all developers using its U.S. App Store, a position complicating the ongoing legal situation.
As of now, Apple has been adhering to the contempt ruling while simultaneously seeking to challenge its terms, culminating in its recent Supreme Court filing.