Apple is escalating its legal battle by appealing a significant antitrust ruling in the UK that could result in a £1.5 billion fine, equivalent to approximately $2 billion. The company has requested to take the case to the UK's Court of Appeal following a decision from the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) that found Apple engaged in anticompetitive behavior with its App Store practices.
The CAT's ruling indicated that Apple's dominant position allowed it to impose higher fees on developers, establishing a fee rate between 15 and 20 percent instead of the current 30 percent. Apple has criticized the court's view as flawed, arguing that it does not accurately reflect the competitive landscape of the app market. The tribunal previously denied Apple’s request for an appeal, prompting the tech giant to seek a higher judicial review.
If the fine is upheld, it would be divided among UK App Store users who made purchases from 2015 to 2024. Apple has not publicly commented on its latest appeal but is expected to challenge the fee structure proposed by the CAT.