US Judge Decertifies Apple iPhone App Store Antitrust Class Action

A long-running antitrust lawsuit accusing Apple of monopolizing the iPhone App Store has seen its class action status decertified by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The plaintiffs had alleged that Apple maintained an illegal monopoly by forcing app purchases exclusively through the App Store, resulting in higher prices. However, the court found that the plaintiffs failed to provide a reliable model to show classwide injury and damages, citing significant errors in the methodology used to identify harmed consumers. Notable mistakes included duplicating individuals under different names and improperly grouping unrelated payment records, undermining the credibility of the plaintiffs' expert testimony. This ruling reverses the judge's 2024 decision to certify the class after narrowing the affected group. While the class action status is revoked, plaintiffs remain free to pursue individual claims or seek recertification in the future.