A PYMNTS Company

Apple Must Face Renewed Cloud Storage Monopoly Suit, Judge Rules

By  |  June 16, 2025

Apple is once again at the center of an antitrust controversy surrounding its iCloud storage services. A California judge has denied the tech giant’s request to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed on amended claims brought by iCloud users.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    According to Bloomberg, U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee ruled on Monday that Apple must face allegations that it monopolized the cloud storage market by effectively forcing users of its devices to rely on iCloud. The plaintiffs argue that Apple restricted access to alternative cloud storage providers, making it difficult or impossible for users to store certain types of data—like device backups—with third-party services.

    Related: Apple Challenges UK Government’s Push to Weaken Cloud Encryption

    The complaint was previously dismissed, but Judge Lee permitted the plaintiffs to revise and resubmit their case. In the updated filing, users allege that Apple’s ecosystem design coerces consumers into buying iCloud storage by limiting compatibility with other platforms. Per Bloomberg, the plaintiffs claim that even though iCloud may not offer the best service or features compared to competitors, Apple’s closed system architecture funnels users into using its own storage solution.

    The court’s recent decision underscores ongoing legal scrutiny of Apple’s practices, especially as regulatory pressure continues to mount against major tech firms over market dominance.

    Source: Bloomberg