Apple is asking a federal court to send its long-running legal dispute with Epic Games into settlement talks, marking a new step in the fight over App Store commissions and outside payment options. The request arrived alongside Apple’s latest proposal for fees on purchases completed outside its in-app purchase system in the US.
Apple wants Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to refer both companies to a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero. Apple said its lawyers discussed the request with Epic’s legal team on August 11, 2026, but Epic did not agree to the proposed conference.
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The filing comes as Apple faces continued pressure over its App Store payment rules. Apple recently proposed commissions of up to 15% on purchases made through alternative payment systems, following earlier disputes over the company’s 27% fee on outside transactions.
Epic Games has already rejected Apple’s proposed commission structure, arguing that the fees go beyond what the Ninth Circuit allowed. Apple, however, says a confidential settlement process could help both sides reach a practical agreement and avoid longer court proceedings.
Apple is asking for talks, not offering a settlement
Apple has not submitted a specific settlement offer in the filing, and the motion does not outline any financial terms or proposed agreement with Epic Games. Instead, the company wants the court to require both sides to enter supervised settlement discussions.
Apple also argues that the court can order a settlement conference even without Epic’s approval, while pointing to the Ninth Circuit’s earlier encouragement for both companies to agree on an acceptable commission for purchases completed outside the App Store.
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