French App Developers Take Apple To Court Over Store Fees
Apple Incorporated has been sued by French app developers, accusing the iPhone maker of violating U.S. antitrust law by overcharging on usage of its app store.
The plaintiffs in the proposed class action include Société du Figaro, which develops the Figaro news app; L'Équipe 24/24, which develops the L'Équipe sports news and streaming app, and Le Geste, an association of French content providers.
According to the complaint filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, Apple has abused its monopoly power over app distribution on iOS-based mobile devices by mandating only one app store for those devices.
There is no valid business necessity or pro-competitive justification for Apple's conduct," the complaint said. "Instead, Apple's actions are designed to destroy competition."
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The plaintiffs said the company's conduct has enabled the Cupertino, California-based company to charge "supracompetitive" 30 percent commissions for 14 years, as well as USD 99 annual fees to app developers, while stifling innovation and consumer choice.
The latest lawsuit resembles an earlier Hagens Berman case against Apple, which resulted last in a USD 100 million settlement for smaller iOS developers that called Apple's commissions excessive.
In June, the firm reached a USD 90 million settlement with Alphabet Incorporated's Google over its play store's treatment of developers.
