Apple loses EU court challenge against gatekeeper status for App Store and iOS
The EU General Court in Luxembourg dismissed Apple's lawsuit against its designation as a digital gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act, upholding the European Commission's authority to impose stricter rules on the iPhone maker's App Store and iOS operating system.
Court ruling
The EU General Court in Luxembourg dismissed Apple's challenge on Wednesday, confirming the European Commission's 2023 decision to designate the App Store and iOS as core platform services under the Digital Markets Act. The court rejected Apple's argument that its various App Stores for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac should be assessed separately, ruling that they form a single unit. Apple had also contested the classification of iMessage, though the Commission has not currently designated the messaging service as a gatekeeper.
Apple's response
Apple expressed strong disagreement with the ruling.
The company argues that the obligations expose users to new risks and interfere with its integrated ecosystem.We firmly believe that the DMA requirements go beyond what is legally permissible and proportionate. They threaten to undermine privacy and security measures we have built over decades.
What the DMA requires
The Digital Markets Act, which came into force in 2022, empowers the EU to designate large digital platforms as gatekeepers if they have significant economic power, substantial impact on the European market, and operate in multiple EU countries. Designated companies must ensure fair competition, for example by not favouring their own services over rivals and by allowing interoperability with third-party services. The current list of gatekeepers includes Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, ByteDance, and Booking.com.
Next steps
Apple can still appeal the ruling to the European Court of Justice, the EU's highest court. Separately, a parallel proceeding is underway to determine how far Apple must open its operating system to competitors, including the integration of alternative app stores and artificial intelligence services. The outcome could shape the future of Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem in Europe.
- EU Commission designates Apple as gatekeeper for App Store, iOS, and Safari
- EU General Court dismisses Apple's lawsuit against the designation
- Apple may appeal to the European Court of Justice
