UK Court Opens Doors to Billion-Pound Lawsuit Against Apple for App Store Practices
Apple is currently facing a significant £1.5 billion class action lawsuit in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has abused its market position by charging excessive and unfair commissions on software downloaded from its App Store.
The claimants assert that Apple’s 30% commission on app purchases and in-app transactions has led to inflated costs for consumers, affecting approximately 20 million UK users.
The trial, which commenced on January 13, 2025, is expected to last seven weeks. It marks the first major UK trial in a series of antitrust lawsuits against major technology companies. Apple counters that its commissions are standard industry practice, offer significant services, and that most developers qualify for lower commissions.
This lawsuit is part of a broader global scrutiny of Apple’s App Store practices. In March 2024, the European Commission fined Apple €1.8 billion for abusing its dominant position in the music streaming market.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Apple’s business model and the broader tech industry, potentially influencing how app stores operate and how developers and consumers are affected by platform fees.