Apple is embroiled in a significant legal battle in London, where a mass lawsuit accuses the company of abusing its dominant market position by imposing a 30% commission on app developers through its App Store.
The claim, representing around 20 million iPhone and iPad users in the UK, asserts that these inflated charges have cost British consumers up to £1.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
This lawsuit, filed under the Competition Appeal Tribunal's emerging class action framework, is the first of its kind against a major tech firm in Britain.
The outcome could set a crucial precedent for similar lawsuits, with other high-profile cases involving tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon pending.
Claimants argue that Apple's App Store commission is excessively high and suppresses competition, resulting in increased prices for app purchases. Lawyers for the claimants contend that the fees have inflicted financial harm on millions of Apple device users.
In response, Apple has dismissed the lawsuit as baseless, highlighting the advantages of its integrated iOS ecosystem.
A parallel lawsuit against Google, valued at $1.1 billion, is set to begin later in 2025, focusing on Google's commission structure for app developers using its Play Store.