The critical date in the Apple-Epic Games case has been announced: The Supreme Court will hear it on January 11

The hearing date of the US Supreme Court in the App Store dispute between Apple and Epic Games has been announced.

According to the court's records dated November 2, the oral hearing in file number 25-1311 will be held on January 11, 2027.

The determined date does not mean a decision on the outcome of the case. While the stage at which the parties will present their oral opinions before the court has become clear, there is no separate calendar yet for when the final decision will be announced.

THE COURT ACCEPTED THE APPLICATION IN JUNE

The file was brought before the US Supreme Court upon Apple's application.

The court agreed to review Apple's application on June 30. However, the admission decision did not cover all the legal questions in the application.

The Supreme Court decided to examine only the first question in the petition.

Apple submitted its opinion on the merits to the court on September 14. The deadline for Epic Games to submit its response has been extended until November 13, 2026.

THE REVIEW DOES NOT COVER ALL RULES OF THE APP STORE

The issue that the Supreme Court will consider does not mean a re-examination of the App Store's entire commercial rules or commission system.

The first question the court considered focused on whether a party could be sanctioned for acting contrary to the “spirit” of the decision for conduct that was not expressly prohibited by the court order.

At the center of the dispute is the extent to which the behavior in question must be prohibited clearly and unambiguously in the decision in order to determine its violation of the court decision.

THE SECOND QUESTION WAS EXCLUDED FROM REVIEW

Although there was a second legal question in Apple's application, the Supreme Court did not examine this part.

For this reason, it is not expected that all claims regarding the App Store will be re-evaluated at the hearing on January 11.

The court will hear the parties' views only on the first legal question it accepts.

APP STORE RULES WILL NOT CHANGE ON JANUARY 11

The announcement of the hearing date does not mean that the App Store commission rates or the rules regarding the payment system will directly change on January 11.

In order to determine the possible consequences for developers and users, the Supreme Court's final decision will first need to be announced, and then it will be necessary to clarify how the decision will be applied to the case file.

At this stage of the legal struggle between Apple and Epic Games, which has been going on for years, all eyes are on the oral hearing to be held on January 11, 2027.