Apple Appeals £1.5 Billion UK App Store Ruling

Apple Inc. is appealing a £1.5 billion ruling by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal which found the company abused its dominant market position to overcharge millions of customers. The tribunal determined that Apple's standard 30% commission on apps and in-app purchases between October 2015 and November 2024 was anticompetitive, suggesting fairer rates of 17.5% and 10% instead.

The class-action lawsuit was led by academic Rachael Kent on behalf of approximately 36 million users. If the appeal fails, eligible consumers could receive payouts ranging from £27 to £75. Apple has referred the matter to the Court of Appeal after the tribunal initially rejected its request to appeal in November.

Apple argues the ruling takes a flawed view of the competitive app economy and ignores business realities. The company highlighted that the App Store contributed £41 billion to the UK digital economy in 2024. This case is part of a wider cluster of collective lawsuits seeking over £6 billion in compensation, including a £3 billion claim regarding iCloud services and a separate suit from app developers. Google has also vowed to defend similar claims regarding its Play Store commissions.