Several French app developers have sued Apple, accusing the American company of violating US antitrust laws by charging excessive fees for its digital content app store. The plaintiffs’ appeal was filed this week in court in Oakland, California.
Image source: Apple
The plaintiffs in this case are the developer of the news app Figaro, the developer of the sports news app and the live streaming app L’Équipe, and the association of French content providers Le Geste. The companies’ complaint alleges that Apple is abusing its dominance in iOS app distribution to force developers to exclusively use the App Store to distribute their products.
Plaintiffs allege that this allowed Apple to charge “super competitive” fees of 30% for 14 years and annual developer fees, stifling innovation and depriving consumers of choice. “There is no legitimate business need or competitive reason for Apple’s conduct. Instead, Apple’s actions aim to destroy competition.”states the plaintiffs’ complaint.
As part of the filing, plaintiffs are seeking an injunction against Apple’s continued anticompetitive behavior and treble damages for violating state and California antitrust laws. The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and the French firm Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi. Apple officials have so far been reluctant to comment on the matter.
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