Apple loses bid to pause App Store fee changes as case heads to Supreme Court

The Ninth Circuit reversed a prior stay and denied Apple’s request to pause court-ordered App Store payment changes, ruling Apple must continue allowing developers to use external payments without Apple fees while the case proceeds toward the U.S. Supreme Court. The procedural win for Epic Games preserves the current treatment of off‑App‑Store payments, maintaining revenue uncertainty for Apple around potential lost commission income and signaling ongoing legal risk. Market participants may view the decision as a near‑term negative for Apple’s App Store monetization outlook until a final ruling is reached, increasing downside risk for AAPL shares tied to services revenue exposure.