Apple has turned to the United States Supreme Court in an effort to halt further legal action in its long-running conflict with Epic Games, as the fight over App Store practices continues to escalate.

The company is asking the court to pause upcoming proceedings tied to a contempt ruling that found Apple had not fully complied with earlier orders related to competition on its platform. At the centre of the dispute is Apple’s decision to apply commission fees of between 12 per cent and 27 per cent on purchases made through external payment links.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, which challenged Apple’s control over in-app payments. A 2021 ruling determined that Apple had breached California competition laws by restricting developers to its own payment system, forcing the company to allow alternative purchasing options.

In response, Apple introduced changes that let developers direct users to external payment methods. However, it also implemented commission charges on those transactions, arguing that it should still be compensated for providing the underlying technology, tools and distribution platform.

A lower court later ruled that these fees undermined the intent of the original decision, leading to a finding of contempt. That decision was upheld on appeal, with judges noting that the commission rates were high enough to discourage developers from using external payment options.

The appeals court also criticised Apple’s warning messages shown to users before they leave the App Store to make purchases elsewhere. These alerts emphasised that Apple would not be responsible for the security or privacy of external transactions, which the court found could deter users from choosing alternative payment routes.

Apple has now asked the Supreme Court to step in before further hearings determine what constitutes a reasonable commission rate. The company argues that continuing under a contempt ruling could unfairly shape its business model and have wider implications for the global app economy.

As part of its request, Apple has indicated it would suspend commission charges on external purchases while the court considers whether to review the case.

Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney has criticised Apple’s move, accusing the company of delaying meaningful change and attempting to avoid broader reforms that could benefit developers and consumers.

The dispute has drawn attention from regulators and policymakers, with implications extending beyond the United States. The outcome could influence how digital marketplaces operate worldwide, particularly around payment systems and platform fees.

The Supreme Court has previously declined to fully review the underlying case, although it has intervened at earlier stages to pause certain requirements. A similar attempt by Google to delay changes to its own app store policies was rejected last year after it faced comparable legal challenges from Epic.

With both sides continuing to push their positions, the case remains one of the most closely watched battles in the technology sector, with potential consequences for how app ecosystems are structured and regulated globally.