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Apple Appeals €500 Million EU Antitrust Fine Over App Store Restrictions

By  |  July 7, 2025

Apple has taken legal action against the European Commission’s €500 million ($587 million) fine, challenging the ruling in Europe’s General Court—the EU’s second-highest judicial authority—after regulators accused the company of breaching the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to Reuters.

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    The Commission’s April decision targeted Apple’s App Store policies, specifically rules that allegedly barred developers from directing users to more affordable purchasing options outside of Apple’s platform. These restrictions, the EU argued, unfairly limited competition and violated newly enacted measures designed to rein in the influence of dominant tech firms. Apple filed its formal appeal on Monday, which was the final day to do so legally, per Reuters.

    In a statement, Apple confirmed its appeal, reiterating its disagreement with the Commission’s findings and the scope of the penalty. The company maintained that the fine was excessive and that the EU was overstepping by dictating how Apple should operate its digital storefront. Apple also emphasized that its recent compliance steps were taken primarily to avoid steep daily penalties.

    Related: Judge Allows DOJ’s Antitrust Case Against Apple to Proceed

    Last month, Apple introduced a sweeping revision to its App Store framework for European users in an effort to align with the DMA’s requirements. The changes were made to avert potential daily fines that could reach up to 5% of the company’s average global revenue—estimated at about €50 million per day. As part of its compliance process, the European Commission is currently gathering feedback from developers to determine whether Apple’s revised policies sufficiently address the concerns raised.

    This legal challenge is one of the first major tests of the Digital Markets Act, which came into force earlier this year and is part of the EU’s broader push to enhance digital competition and limit the dominance of tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon.

    Source: Reuters