US backs Apple in Supreme Court appeal against Epic Games contempt ruling
by@Reuters
Summary
The Trump administration is supporting Apple's appeal against a contempt ruling related to a lawsuit brought by Epic Games, the creator of "Fortnite," in a case currently before the US Supreme Court. The Justice Department filed a friend-of-the-court brief advocating for clearer standards on civil contempt to potentially benefit Apple, arguing that contempt findings should only apply when a party's actions are explicitly covered by a court order. This appeal arises from Epic Games' 2020 antitrust lawsuit which led to an injunction mandating new commission rules for Apple's App Store, and the subsequent controversy over Apple’s alleged violation of that order through its new commission rate on transactions.
Tokens
$AAPL
Analysis
Apple: Apple Inc. is a leading technology company that develops consumer electronics, software, and services, including its App Store platform for distributing mobile applications. The company is appealing a lower court contempt ruling to the US Supreme Court in its long-running antitrust dispute with Epic Games over app store commission policies and compliance with prior injunctions. The Justice Department's amicus brief partially aligns with Apple's position on the legal standards required for civil contempt findings. Epic Games: Epic Games is a video game company best known for developing Fortnite and the Unreal Engine. It filed the original antitrust lawsuit against Apple in 2020 and later accused the company of violating the resulting injunction by implementing new commission rates on off-app purchases. Epic Games is defending the lower court contempt order and opposing Apple's Supreme Court appeal. Donald Trump: Donald Trump is the President of the United States. His administration directed the Justice Department to file a friend-of-the-court brief in the Apple v. Epic Games Supreme Court case urging clarification of civil contempt standards. The brief supports narrowing the basis for such findings in a manner that would benefit Apple's arguments on certain points. D. John Sauer: D. John Sauer is an attorney with the US Justice Department who represents the United States in the amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court. He is listed as counsel for the government in the Apple Inc. v. Epic Games Inc. appeal concerning the scope of civil contempt authority. Gregory Garre: Gregory Garre is a partner at Latham & Watkins serving as counsel for Apple Inc. in its appeal to the US Supreme Court. He is representing the company in challenging the lower court's contempt ruling related to compliance with the Epic Games injunction. US Government: The US Government, acting through the Justice Department, submitted an amicus brief in the Apple-Epic Games Supreme Court case advocating for a stricter standard that limits civil contempt findings to conduct clearly prohibited by an injunction's express terms. The filing supports neither party outright but aligns with Apple on the need for greater clarity in lower court applications of contempt authority. Gary Bornstein: Gary Bornstein is a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore serving as counsel for Epic Games Inc. in the ongoing litigation. He is handling the company's defense of the contempt order and opposition to Apple's Supreme Court petition. Case Origin: The dispute arises from Epic Games' 2020 antitrust lawsuit against Apple's App Store practices that resulted in an injunction requiring changes to commission policies. Government Filing: The Justice Department filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to narrow the grounds on which parties can be held in civil contempt. Supreme Court Issue: The appeal focuses on whether a party can be held in contempt for conduct not expressly forbidden by the specific terms of a court order.
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