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Published on
October 24, 2025
5 min read
Apple Loses Lawsuit Over App Store as U.K. Regulator Makes Landmark Ruling
In Focus
- Apple has lost U.K. case on app store dominance
- Regulator says app store practices stifled competition
- Apple plans to appeal decision
Apple has lost the £1.5 billion consumer lawsuit in the U.K. The U.S. tech giant lost the case after U.K’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled that app store practices stifled competition. According to UKTech News, the practices also compelled developers to pay excessive fees.
Apple loses U.K lawsuit over app store fees at a time when it has been facing scrutiny from U.S. and EU regulators. The ruling in Apple’s App Store U.K. case could cost the U.S. tech giant hundreds of millions of pounds in damages.
Apple’s Pricing Structure Unjustified
U.K. launched antitrust antitrust probes against Apple and Google mobile systems in January 2025. Explaining the Apple Competition Appeal Tribunal UK decision, CAT, said the company abused its dominance from October 2015 to 2020. According to the regulator, the tech giant avoided competition in app distribution and charged developers high fees as commission.
CAT ruled that Apple’s practices resulted in losses amounting to about £1.5 billion over the ten year period Apple takes up to 30% of the in-app purchase and app subscription fees. The iPhone maker also requires all purchases to be made through its payment system. This move keeps developers from using alternative payment systems.
“In our view, Apple’s restrictions cannot sensibly be justified as being necessary or proportionate to deliver the benefits which Apple puts forward as flowing from its objective of an integrated and centralised system. The competition which would exist absent the restrictions is in our view much more likely to deliver the benefits that consumers want,” the U.K. tribunal said.
A Preview of Apple’s App Store U.K. Lawsuit
- Tech company abused app store dominance for 10 years
- Apple practices led to losses amounting to £1.5 billion
- Apple takes 30% of the in-app purchases and app subscription fees
A Major Win Against Global Tech Giant
Dr. Rachael Kent, who led U.K’s collective action against the big tech regime, termed Apple’s £1.5 billion UK consumer case ruling a major win against tech giants. Kent previously argued that iPhone users had to accept Apple terms for lack of alternatives. Kent filed the claim on behalf of about 36 million iPad and iPhone users across the U.K.
“This is a landmark victory, not only for App Store users, but for anyone who has ever felt powerless against a global tech giant. This case proves that the U.K’s collective action regime is working” Kent said. Google is also facing antitrust charges over its app store practices in the EU.
Apple’s Plan to Appeal Ruling
Apple said the ruling “takes a flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy” and plans to appeal. The ruling comes as competition regulators focus on the control that Google and Apple have on the app store market. Apple appealed a $580 million EU app store fine in July 2025.
