Appeals Court Rejects Apple’s Bid to Block App Store Monopoly Lawsuit

Apple has failed to persuade a U.S. appeals court to block a class action lawsuit accusing the company of monopolizing the market for iPhone apps and keeping prices artificially high for tens of millions of customers. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, May 24, rejected Apple’s bid for a pretrial appeal, following a California federal judge’s decision in February to allow consumers to pursue billions of dollars in alleged damages.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers certified a class of consumers who have spent $10 or more on Apple app or in-app purchases since 2008. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2011, accuses Apple of violating U.S. antitrust laws by tightly controlling how customers download apps.

According to Reuters, the appeals court panel denied Apple’s appeal without holding a hearing.

Read more: Apple Fights €1.8 Billion EU Fine Over Music Streaming Competition

Apple argued that Judge Rogers’ order would unfairly permit at least 10 million App Store accounts to be included in the case without the plaintiffs demonstrating how the account holders were harmed. However, the lawyers representing Apple customers urged the 9th Circuit not to hear the case, asserting that Rogers “faithfully” applied prior rulings in her decision to approve class status.

This decision marks a significant development in the long-running legal battle over Apple’s control of its App Store, which has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators and competitors. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the tech giant and its business practices, potentially reshaping the landscape of digital marketplaces.

Source: Reuters