Apple Denied Appeal in UK £1.2 Billion App Store Antitrust Case While US AI Monopoly Lawsuit Moves Forward

Apple Denied Appeal In UK £1.2 Billion App Store Antitrust Case While US AI Lawsuit Advances

Apple has been blocked from appealing a landmark UK ruling that found the company engaged in anticompetitive behaviour on its App Store, a case that could result in a payout of up to £1.2 billion.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) rejected Apple’s request to revisit the decision, though the tech giant retains the option to take the matter to the Court of Appeal.

UK Tribunal Confirms Apple Overcharged Developers For Nine Years

Last month, the CAT ruled that Apple’s standard 30% commission on in-app transactions was “excessive and unfair,” concluding that a fair commission would have been around 17.5%.

The tribunal found that developers had passed on half of these inflated costs to consumers, effectively charging millions of British users higher prices for apps and in-app services over nearly a decade.

Apple responded by claiming the tribunal “takes a flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy” and ignores the value the company offers to both developers and consumers.

Meanwhile, Rachael Kent, a UK academic leading the claim on behalf of approximately 20 million iPhone and iPad users, said the ruling moves consumers “one step closer to seeing money rightfully put back into their pockets.”

The CAT will now plan additional hearings to determine how compensation is distributed, a process likely to continue into 2026.

Legal analysts note that the UK decision could strengthen other lawsuits against Apple across Europe and beyond.

US Judge Allows Elon Musk’s Antitrust Case Against Apple And OpenAI To Proceed

On the other side of the Atlantic, a US federal judge denied Apple and OpenAI’s motions to dismiss Elon Musk’s antitrust lawsuit, allowing the case to advance toward trial.

Filed in August, the lawsuit challenges Apple’s June 2024 decision to integrate ChatGPT as the exclusive AI assistant in iOS, claiming the arrangement gives OpenAI an unfair monopoly while sidelining competitors like Musk’s Grok chatbot.

Judge Mark T. Pittman emphasised that the ruling should not be seen as a judgment on the merits of the case but acknowledged that the allegations require further scrutiny.

Alex Chandra, partner at IGNOS Law Alliance, said,

“This is a procedural step. The real impact now is where the facts will actually be tested.”

Musk Claims Monopoly And Preferential Treatment

X Corp. and xAI argue that Apple’s integration of ChatGPT into iOS, including featuring it prominently on the “Must-Have Apps” list, unfairly excludes rivals.

They claim ChatGPT controls “at least 80 percent” of the generative AI chatbot market while Grok holds only “a few percent,” despite superior capabilities.

Elon Musk stated that Apple and OpenAI are conspiring to monopolise key markets in smartphones and generative AI, framing the issue as a challenge to what he sees as monopolistic practices.

Legal experts note the case will focus on evidence of exclusion versus efficiency and whether competitors are genuinely blocked from reaching users or simply facing market challenges.

Apple And OpenAI Deny Wrongdoing

Apple insists its agreement with OpenAI is not exclusive and that a broad range of chatbots remain accessible via browsers and standalone apps.

The company argues that providing one integration does not constitute a monopoly and points to continued collaboration with other AI providers, including Google Gemini.

OpenAI, meanwhile, described the lawsuit as “consistent with Mr Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment,” asserting that the integration benefits consumers by offering accessible AI tools.

Global Regulatory Scrutiny Is Intensifying

The UK and US cases highlight the growing regulatory attention on Apple’s control of its App Store and digital marketplace.

Apple has faced similar interventions in the Netherlands, South Korea, and across the EU, forcing adjustments to fees and allowing rival payment systems.

Analysts suggest that these legal challenges could set precedents for how dominant tech platforms manage app distribution, commissions, and AI integration globally.

Is Antitrust Battles Just Beginning

Coinlive sees these cases as a test of how global regulators and courts define monopolistic practices in digital markets.

The UK ruling on excessive App Store fees and the US antitrust challenge over AI integration raise fundamental questions: how far can dominant platforms leverage exclusivity before it becomes illegal, and who ultimately protects consumers and competitors?

Apple faces scrutiny not only for pricing and commissions but also for shaping access to new technologies, from apps to AI assistants.

These battles could reshape the rules for platform governance worldwide.