Apple Loses EU Gatekeeper Challenge as US Epic Pause Holds

On July 8, 2026, the EU General Court dismissed Apple’s challenge to its Digital Markets Act gatekeeper status for the App Store and iOS. This follows the July 6 federal court order pausing the Epic Games antitrust case until the Supreme Court rules on Apple’s contempt appeal. The Supreme Court agreed June 30 to hear the appeal of the 2025 civil contempt finding, which the Ninth Circuit upheld in December. The pause lifted near-term legal overhang, sending shares up 1.52% to $313.33, while the EU ruling adds fresh regulatory pressure and potential fines up to 10% of global turnover.