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Apple Seeks Court of Appeal Review of £1.5 Billion UK App Store Ruling

The case now awaits a permission decision from the Court of Appeal.

Overview

  • Apple has applied to the UK Court of Appeal after the Competition Appeal Tribunal refused permission to appeal in November, and no hearing has been set.
  • In October, the tribunal found Apple abused its dominant position by charging commissions of up to 30% on App Store purchases, estimating consumer harm at £1.5 billion.
  • The collective, opt-out case covers roughly 36 million UK consumers who made App Store purchases between 2015 and 2024.
  • The tribunal said fairer rates would have been about 17.5% for paid apps and 10% for in‑app purchases, a calculation it described as relying on 'informed guesswork.'
  • Apple contests the ruling and its methodology, pointing to a 15% commission tier for many developers and a 'thriving and competitive' app economy, and any upheld award would likely mean small individual payouts.