Apple loses UK case over App Store pricing abuse
A British court ruled Apple charged excessive fees to customers who bought apps and digital content over the past decade. The Competition Appeal Tribunal sided with researcher Rachael Kent, who represented 36 million users in the first successful consumer action of this type under UK competition rules.
Apple collected a 30 percent commission from developers for sales made through its App Store, which judges said violated fair trading principles. The decision could lead to payouts totaling 1.5 billion pounds for anyone who purchased apps or subscriptions since October 2015. Physical goods sold through platforms like delivery services remain outside the scope of the judgment.
The tech firm plans to challenge the verdict and defends its marketplace as secure for both creators and buyers. Kent said the tribunal found that Apple overcharged users while limiting competitors’ options. Legal analysts expect the case to encourage similar claims against other technology companies operating in Britain.
