Apple, the makers of iPhone are in fresh trouble in Europe once again. This time Apple has been sued by French app developers who have accused Apple of violating U.S. anti-trust laws by overcharging on usage of its app store. The plaintiff is a French content developing company, its subsidiaries and an association of French content developers. The plaintiffs are represented by the U.S. law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, and Paris-based Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi.
The complaint has been filed in federal court in California and tech giant has been accused of abusing its monopoly power over app distribution on iOS based mobile devices by mandating only one app store for those devices. The plaintiff said company’s conduct has enabled it to charge super competitive 30 % commissions for 14 years as well as $99 annual fees to app developers while stifling innovation and consumer choices. The complaint seeks an injunction against further anticompetitive conduct, plus triple damages for violating federal antitrust law and California state laws.
The latest law suit resembles an earlier case against Apple that resulted into a hundred million dollar settlement for smaller iOS developers that called Apple’s commissions excessive. In June, Apple reached a $90 million dollar settlement with Alphabet Inc. over its Playstore’s treatment of developers.