Apple is seeking to challenge a significant ruling that found it overcharged millions of UK customers via its App Store commission rates. The £1.5bn court decision, delivered last October by the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, indicated that Apple had exploited its dominant market position by imposing excessive fees on app sales and in-app purchases from October 2015 until the end of 2020.
The case, initiated by Dr. Rachael Kent, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, represents approximately 36 million British users. The tribunal's ruling has been described by campaigners as a potential turning point in consumer resistance against major technology firms. Apple previously indicated its intention to appeal the verdict shortly after it was announced.
This appeal represents Apple's second attempt to overturn the ruling, following an unsuccessful bid last November. It is part of a broader legal challenge involving several class-action lawsuits against both Apple and Google, with claims exceeding £6bn for alleged breaches of competition law, allowing millions of consumers to participate without needing to opt in.