Presidential backing, Trump administration backs Apple in Supreme Court case

The Trump administration filed a brief on Monday supporting Apple Inc’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) position in its Supreme Court appeal of a contempt ruling in a lawsuit brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite.

The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to limit the basis for holding parties in civil contempt. The DOJ stated it filed the brief in support of neither Apple nor Epic Games, though the requested order would favor Apple.

The Supreme Court agreed in June to review Apple’s challenge to a California federal court judge’s decision that found the company in civil contempt for allegedly breaking an earlier court order.

Epic Games sued Apple in 2020, claiming the company violated antitrust law through its control of app transactions. Epic won an injunction that required major changes to Apple’s app store operations.

Epic later accused Apple of breaking that order when the company established a 27% commission on certain purchases made outside its app.