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Apple Seeks to Overturn £1.5 Billion UK App Store Antitrust Ruling

By  |  December 31, 2025

Apple has moved to challenge a landmark UK antitrust decision by asking the Court of Appeal to overturn a £1.5 billion ruling that found the company overcharged millions of App Store users, according to The Guardian. The appeal marks the latest development in one of the most consequential competition cases Apple has faced in the UK.

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    The request follows an October decision by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal, which ruled that Apple abused its dominant market position by imposing excessive commission fees on App Store transactions between 2015 and 2024, per The Guardian. The tribunal concluded that Apple’s control over app distribution on iPhones and iPads enabled it to charge commissions of up to 30 percent, levels it said would not have existed in a properly competitive market. The resulting consumer harm was estimated at £1.5 billion.

    The case was brought as a collective action representing roughly 36 million consumers in the UK. Under the country’s opt-out collective proceedings system, most people who made App Store purchases during the period in question are automatically included unless they choose otherwise. According to The Guardian, this means a large share of UK consumers could be eligible for compensation if the ruling ultimately stands.

    In its judgment, the tribunal said Apple should have applied lower commission rates, suggesting around 17.5 percent for app sales and 10 percent for in-app purchases. It acknowledged that these figures were based on “informed guesswork” derived from the evidence available. Apple has strongly contested that reasoning, arguing that the tribunal’s approach was flawed.

    Related: Italy Fines Apple Nearly 100 Million Euros Over App Store Practices

    After the October decision, Apple sought permission from the tribunal itself to appeal, but that request was rejected in November. The tribunal found that Apple had not met the legal standard required to reopen the case. Apple has now taken the next step by applying directly to the Court of Appeal, which has the power to allow an appeal even when the tribunal has declined, according to The Guardian.

    Apple has said it disagrees with the ruling and maintains that the tribunal misunderstood how the app marketplace functions. In an earlier response cited by The Guardian, the company said the App Store operates in a “thriving and competitive app economy” and emphasized the platform’s role in providing security, privacy protections, and access to a wide customer base. Apple has also pointed out that most developers pay a reduced commission of 15 percent and that the App Store enabled more than $55 billion in UK sales last year.

    If Apple’s appeal fails and the original ruling is upheld, the £1.5 billion award would be shared among eligible UK consumers. While individual payouts are expected to be modest, the overall compensation would be substantial, underscoring the scale of the case and its potential impact on Apple’s business practices in the UK, according to The Guardian.

    Source: The Guardian