San Francisco: Filed by a group of French iOS developers, tech giant Apple is facing an antitrust lawsuit over app store fees. TechCrunch reports that Apple is accused by the plaintiffs of anti-competitive practices in allowing only one app store for iOS devices, giving it a monopoly on iOS app distribution and hence the ability to force higher commission from developers on in-app purchases.
The complaint argues that these commissions, on top of Apple's $99 annual developer programme fees, cut into developers' earnings and stifle innovation -- and yet developers are not permitted to offer alternative payment methods per Apple's App Store rules, nor can they distribute their apps to iOS users outside of the App Store, despite Apple allowing this on Mac computers.
The case is now one of several antitrust legal battles Apple faces, including the high-profile lawsuit with Fortnite maker Epic Games, which is under appeal and another by alternative app store Cydia, the report said.
The iOS developers in the suit include France-based developers Societe du Figaro, the developer of the Figaro news app; L'Equipe 24/24, the developer of L'Equipe sports news and streaming app; and le GESTE, a French association comprised of France-based publishers of online content and services, including iOS app developers.
The group is represented by US-based law firm Hagens Berman, which last year won a $100 million settlement against Apple over its App Store policies. They have also recently filed a case for $1 billion against Apple over antitrust issues with Apple Pay.
Steve Berman, the managing partner of Hagens Berman, has a history of winning against tech giants, including a $560 million settlement against Apple in an e-book price-fixing case and a $90 million settlement for Android developers.
With inputs from IANS