APPLE was sued on Monday (Aug 1) by French app developers that accused the iPhone maker of violating US antitrust law by overcharging them to use 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.
The plaintiffs said this has enabled the Cupertino, California-based company to charge “supracompetitive” 30 per cent commissions for 14 years, as well as US$99 annual fees to app developers while stifling innovation and consumer choice.
“There is no valid business necessity or pro-competitive justification for Apple’s conduct,” The Business Times reported the complaint as saying.
“Instead, Apple’s actions are designed to destroy competition.”
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
