Emergency application
App store payment rules
Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc.
What did the Court do?
The Court denied the request on May 6, 2026: the lower court's ruling stays in effect while the appeal continues.
Emergency rulings are temporary and do not decide the underlying case.
What's being asked
Apple asks the Supreme Court to temporarily stop the Ninth Circuit’s ruling from taking effect while Apple seeks Supreme Court review. Epic sought to enforce a court order against Apple; Apple challenges penalties tied to the Ninth Circuit’s contempt ruling (for disobeying a court order).
What the Court did
Justice Kagan refused Apple’s request for a temporary pause (denied the application). The order gives no reason, and the Court did not publish how the justices voted. This emergency ruling does not decide who wins the underlying dispute.
What it means
The emergency ruling addresses only whether Apple gets a temporary pause; it does not decide who wins the underlying dispute. The Ninth Circuit can now put its ruling into effect. The docket lists no related Supreme Court case for a full decision or argument date.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the Supreme Court docket, orders, and opinions for No. 25A1213. The answers restate that record in plain words; explainer copy is written from the record and the filings only.