UK Court Rules Apple Overcharged App Developers, Faces $2 Billion Damage Claim

A UK tribunal ruled that Apple abused its dominant position by charging developers unfair commissions of up to 30%, significantly above a fair rate of 17.5%, between 2015 and 2020, resulting in overcharges passed partly to consumers. This landmark decision exposes Apple to potentially around £1.5 billion ($2 billion) in damages, with a hearing scheduled to determine the exact amount and any appeals. British academic Rachael Kent led the class-action lawsuit representing millions of iPhone and iPad users, highlighting Apple's monopolistic practices that stifled competition and imposed excessive fees. Apple strongly disagrees with the ruling, calling it flawed and plans to appeal, defending its App Store as a safe platform beneficial to developers and users. The case is part of broader regulatory scrutiny, with similar legal challenges and competition investigations ongoing in other regions, including the US and EU, as authorities seek to rein in Apple’s market dominance. The ruling underscores growing global efforts to hold major tech firms accountable for anti-competitive practices in digital marketplaces.