No. 25-1311October Term 2025Before Arguments
Apple Inc., Petitioner v. Epic Games, Inc.
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Question presented
1. Whether a court may hold a party in civil contempt based on a violation of an injunction's "spirit" where the injunction is silent as to the conduct upon which contempt is based, as the Ninth Circuit holds; or, instead, whether a court must ground a finding of civil contempt on the violation of an order that clearly and unambiguously proscribes the precise conduct at issue, as other circuits hold. 2. Whether the Ninth Circuit has properly created an "antitrust" or "competition" exception to Trump v. CASA, Inc ., 606 U.S. 831 (2025), and the longstanding equitable principles on which CASA rests, or otherwise disregarded CASA 's limits.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Business and Regulation
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a fight between Apple and Epic over when a federal court can punish a party for violating an injunction. The case also asks whether the Ninth Circuit went too far by recognizing an antitrust or competition exception to limits the Court described in Trump v. CASA, Inc.
Argument
The case is pending, and oral argument has not been scheduled yet. The key questions are whether civil contempt can rest on an injunction's "spirit" rather than clear text, and whether the Ninth Circuit created an antitrust or competition exception to Trump v. CASA, Inc.
Impact
The answer could affect how clearly judges must write injunctions before they can enforce them through civil contempt. That matters for companies, app platforms, and other businesses that change policies after a court order and then face claims they violated it anyway.
What is Apple Inc. v. Epic Games about?
It asks when a court may use civil contempt to enforce an injunction. It also asks whether competition cases can escape limits described in Trump v. CASA, Inc.
Who could be affected by Apple Inc. v. Epic Games?
Businesses under court orders could be directly affected, especially large tech platforms and firms in competition fights. The ruling could also shape how judges draft injunctions.
When is the next step in Apple Inc. v. Epic Games?
The next major step is oral argument, but it has not been scheduled. For now, the main thing to watch is whether the Court sets a hearing date.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 23, 2026
- Method
- Methodology