Apple has suffered a partial setback in a major UK legal battle involving iCloud and alleged anti-competitive practices within the iOS ecosystem.
The case, originally filed in 2024 by consumer advocacy group Which?, accuses Apple of leveraging its dominance in iOS to push users toward iCloud while limiting competition from alternative cloud storage providers.
According to the lawsuit, Apple’s integration of iCloud into iOS creates an unfair market advantage and may have artificially inflated cloud storage prices for millions of users.
In a recent ruling, Apple attempted to exclude non-paying iCloud users from the case, arguing that only paying subscribers could potentially claim damages. However, the tribunal rejected the request in a narrow 2-1 decision.
This means the lawsuit will now include both paying and free iCloud users.
Which? argues that even users relying on Apple’s free 5GB storage tier may have been negatively impacted, claiming reduced market competition discouraged users from upgrading due to allegedly inflated pricing.
The decision significantly expands the scope of the case — and potentially the financial risk for Apple.
If the court ultimately rules against the company, Apple could face damages of up to £3 billion ($3.8 billion USD) related to claims that it unfairly favored iCloud over competing services on iOS.
The case is expected to become one of the most closely watched antitrust battles involving Apple in Europe.
- STUNNING TITANIUM DESIGN—iPhone 16 Pro Max has a strong and light titanium design with a larger 6.9-inch Super Retina XD…
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE—Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourse…
- TAKE TOTAL CAMERA CONTROL—Camera Control gives you an easier way to quickly access camera tools, like zoom or depth of f…
- Compatibility: only for iPhone 17 Pro Max; doesn’t include camera lens protectors or built-in camera lens protector
- Adjustable Stash Stand: surrounds the camera, keeping the MagSafe ring unobstructed. This for iPhone 17 Pro Max Case wit…
- Military-Grade Drop Protection: rigorously tested to ensure total protection on all sides, with specially designed Air G…
- Compatibility: only for iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Powerful Privacy Protection: advanced privacy filter effectively blocks views from left/right over 28°, ensuring that on…
- UltraFit in a Flash: includes a cleaning kit and an UltraFit tray for the screen protector (read instructions before use…