Apple Sues EU Over €500 Million Antitrust Fine

Apple has filed an appeal against a 500 million euro fine imposed by the EU for violating antitrust rules. The company claims the EU's decision and fine are excessive and that it has already made changes to its App Store to comply with EU regulations. The case is being heard at the General Court of the European Union.

Apple Inc. has filed an appeal against a €500 million fine imposed by the European Union (EU) for violating antitrust rules related to its App Store. The tech giant claims that the EU's decision and the fine are excessive and that it has already made changes to its App Store to comply with EU regulations. The case is being heard at the General Court of the European Union.

The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires Apple to allow developers to steer users to make purchases outside the App Store, a practice known as "steering." The European Commission (EC) fined Apple in April for allegedly breaching this rule, stating that Apple's technical and commercial restrictions prevented developers from doing so. Apple argues that the EC's demands go far beyond what the law requires and that the fine is unprecedented.

Apple has implemented changes to its App Store policies to comply with the EU order, including a new tiered commission structure and allowing developers to promote out-of-app payment processing for digital goods. However, the company maintains that the EC's demands are confusing for developers and bad for users. Apple also argues that the EC unlawfully expanded the definition of steering, making it easier for developers to direct users to make transactions elsewhere.

The case represents one of the first major legal challenges to the EU's Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb the power of large technology companies. The EU competition watchdog is seeking feedback from app developers before deciding whether to accept Apple's changes or demand more.

References:
[1] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/apple-appeals-unprecedented-500-million-eu-app-store-fine
[2] https://ca.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/apple-challenges-eus-587-million-fine-over-app-store-rules-93CH-4091175
[3] https://denvergazette.com/news/nation-world/apple-takes-fight-against-587-million-eu-antitrust-fine-to-court/article_671d8f3f-ded8-55e9-b5ae-32631de2a1b2.html
[4] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4465502-apple-appeals-500m-fine-in-eu-related-to-app-store