Apple is at the center of a landmark legal battle in London, facing a mass lawsuit that accuses the tech giant of abusing its dominant market position by charging a 30% commission on app developers through its App Store.
The claim, representing around 20 million iPhone and iPad users in the UK, alleges that these inflated fees have cost British consumers up to £1.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
Filed under the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s emerging class action framework, this lawsuit is the first of its kind to go to trial against a major tech company in the UK.
The case could set a significant precedent for similar lawsuits, with other major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon facing pending legal actions.
The lawsuit contends that Apple’s App Store commission is excessively high and restricts competition, resulting in higher prices for consumers on app purchases. Lawyers for the claimants argue that the fees have caused significant financial harm to millions of Apple device users. Apple has dismissed the lawsuit as baseless, highlighting the benefits of its integrated iOS ecosystem.
A similar $1.1 billion lawsuit against Google, focused on its Play Store commission structure for app developers, is set to begin later in 2025.
