Apple Fights £1.5B UK App Store Ruling

Apple is seeking to overturn a substantial £1.5 billion court ruling that determined the tech giant had unjustly overcharged millions of UK consumers via its App Store. This legal challenge represents a significant move by Apple to contest a decision celebrated by consumer advocates as a turning point against major technology firms.

The case is one of several class-action lawsuits scheduled for 2026, collectively demanding over £6 billion. These legal actions utilize an opt-out system, enabling widespread consumer participation when companies are found to have violated competition laws. The Competition Appeal Tribunal previously found Apple had exploited its dominant market position to levy excessive fees on app sales and in-app purchases.

The ongoing dispute covers charges levied between October 1, 2015, and November 15, 2024. Claimants argue that Apple should have imposed more reasonable developer fees, which would have translated into lower prices for the 36 million Apple product users in the UK. Potential compensation for each affected user could range from £27 to £75, depending on their spending habits.