Apple Inc Sued Class Action Three Big French Companies, Over Monopolistic Behavior App Store

Apple is being sued again for monopoly payments in the App Store. (photo: doc. Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Apple Inc was sued by a French app developer who accused the iPhone maker of violating US antitrust laws, on Monday, August 1. They alleged that Apple had overcharged them for using its app store.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit include Société du Figaro, which developed the news app Figaro; L'Équipe 24/24, which develops news and sports streaming app L'Équipe, and Le Geste, an association of French content providers.

According to a complaint filed in federal court in Oakland, California, Apple abused its monopoly power over the distribution of apps on iOS-based mobile devices by mandating only one app store for those devices.

The plaintiffs say this has allowed the Cupertino, California-based company to charge a "supercompetitive" 30% commission over 14 years, as well as an annual fee of $99 for app developers, while hindering innovation and consumer choice.

"There is no legitimate business need or pro-competitive justification for Apple's behavior," the complaint said. "Instead, Apple's actions are designed to crush competition."

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report and lawsuit.

Monday's lawsuit also seeks an injunction against further anti-competitive conduct, plus three damages for violating federal antitrust laws and California state law.

The plaintiffs were represented by US law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and Paris-based Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi.

Monday's lawsuit resembles Hagens Berman's previous case against Apple, August 2021, which resulted in a $100 million settlement for smaller iOS developers who called Apple's commissions excessive.

In June, the company reached a $90 million settlement with Alphabet Inc's Google over its app store's treatment of developers.