The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to pause a lower-court order holding Apple in contempt in its long-running fight with Epic Games, a procedural move that keeps immediate pressure on Apple while the broader dispute over App Store payment rules continues.

The order stems from the remedy phase of the Epic litigation, where Apple was previously directed to loosen restrictions affecting how app developers communicate alternative payment options to users.

Apple has filed a new inter partes review, IPR2026-00340, at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board on April 24, 2026, opening another closely watched front in the company’s patent dispute strategy. The proceeding is captioned Apple Inc., and, as with many newly filed PTAB matters, practitioners will be watching the petition and any forthcoming preliminary response to see how the issues are framed before the Board decides whether to institute review.

At this early stage, the public docket identifies Apple as the petitioner but may not yet provide the full set of details practitioners typically want immediately, including the patent owner’s identity, the patent number being challenged, and the precise prior-art grounds asserted.

Apple Inc. has filed a new inter partes review petition at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, opening IPR2026-00332 on April 3, 2026. At this stage, the public docket identifies Apple as the petitioner, but practitioners should note that early PTAB dockets often reveal only limited information until the petition, exhibits, and mandatory notices are fully available.

Based on the current case listing, the key immediate takeaway is that Apple is asking the Board to reconsider the validity of at least one issued patent through the PTAB’s trial system.