Apple Inc. was sued on Monday by French app developers, accusing the iPhone maker of violating US antitrust law by using its App Store.
Plaintiffs in the proposed class action include Societe du Figaro, which develops the Figaro news app; L’quipe 24/24, which develops L’quipe sports news and streaming apps; and Le Guest, a consortium of French content providers.
Apple has abused its monopoly power over app distribution on iOS-based mobile devices by mandating only one app store, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Oakland, California.
The plaintiffs said this enabled the Cupertino, California-based company to charge a “supercompetitive” 30% commission and $99 annual fee from app developers for 14 years while influencing innovation and consumer choice.
According to the complaint filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, Apple has abused its monopoly power over app distribution on iOS-based mobile devices by mandating only one app store.
The plaintiffs said this had enabled the Cupertino, California-based company to charge “supracompetitive” 30% commissions for 14 years and $99 annual fees to app developers while stifling innovation and consumer choice.
“There is no valid business necessity or pro-competitive justification for Apple’s conduct,” the complaint said. “Instead, Apple’s actions are designed to destroy competition.”
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Monday’s complaint seeks an injunction against further anticompetitive conduct, plus triple damages for violating federal antitrust law and California state laws.
The plaintiffs are represented by the U.S. law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and Paris-based Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi.
Aug 1 (Reuters) – Apple Inc was sued on Monday by French app developers that accused the iPhone maker of violating U.S. antitrust law by overcharging them to use its app store.
The plaintiffs in the proposed class action include Société du Figaro, which develops the Figaro news app; L’Équipe 24/24, which develops the L’Équipe sports news and streaming app; and Le Geste, an association of French content providers
According to the complaint filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, Apple has abused its monopoly power over app distribution on iOS-based mobile devices by mandating only one app store.
The plaintiffs said this had enabled the Cupertino, California-based company to charge “supracompetitive” 30% commissions for 14 years, as well as $99 annual fees to app developers while stifling innovation and consumer choice
“There is no valid business necessity or pro-competitive justification for Apple’s conduct,” the complaint said. “Instead, Apple’s actions are designed to destroy competition.”
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Monday’s complaint seeks an injunction against further anticompetitive conduct, plus triple damages for violating federal antitrust law and California state laws.
The plaintiffs are represented by the U.S. law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and Paris-based Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi.Advertisement · Scroll to continueADVERTISINGReport an ad
Monday’s lawsuit resembles an earlier Hagens Berman case against Apple, which resulted in last August in a $100 million settlement for smaller iOS developers that called Apple’s commissions excessive.
In June, the firm reached a $90 million settlement with Alphabet Inc’s Google over its app store’s treatment of developers.
The case is Société du Figaro et al v Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-04437.