MLex: Apple has said it will revise the App Store fees for iPhone apps in the EU, as it set out plans to comply with the EU’s new laws for ‘gatekeeper’ digital platforms. The company will also allow alternative app stores on devices and roll out a choice screen for rival browsers.

IP analysis: On 25 November 2021, Mr Justice Meade handed down the latest judgment in the Optis v Apple SEP/FRAND litigation, ruling that each of the three patents asserted by Optis were invalid for obviousness. Apple had conceded at the PTR that the patents were essential, so that the only issue for trial was validity. This technical trial, termed 'Trial C', comes in the context of another recent success for Apple in the wider Optis v Apple proceedings, in which the Court of Appeal overturned Mr Justice Birss' High Court ruling on essentiality. This Trial C saw Meade J consider technical arguments on some of the patents in the proceedings, having already handed down a judgment finding Apple to be an 'unwilling licensee' in September last year. The FRAND trial is scheduled to take place in summer 2022 after further technical trials. Written by Neville Cordell, partner, and Sian Avery, associate, at Allen & Overy LLP.

Law360: Apple has won permission to appeal a decision to let an £853m (US$1bn) class action claim go ahead for allegations the tech giant concealed problems with iPhone batteries, despite challenges to the funding arrangements.

The European Commission has mandated that Apple ensure its iPad Operating System (iPadOS) complies with the obligations of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), following its inclusion on the list of core platform services in April 2024. This includes allowing users to select their default web browser, enabling alternative app stores, and ensuring that accessory devices can access iPadOS features. On 1 November 2024, Apple also published a compliance report outlining the measures it has taken for iPadOS to comply with the EU DMA, which will be evaluated by the Commission alongside stakeholder input. Should the Commission conclude Apple's solutions are non-compliant, it can take formal enforcement action under the EU DMA.

IP&IT Analysis: This was Samsung’s application for a declaration that it does not infringe Apple’s Community Registered Design (RCD) in its dealings with the Galaxy tablets; Apple responded with a counterclaim of infringement. Laura Thompson, Solicitor and member of Lexis®PSL IP & IT, discusses the case and the impact for lawyers.

Law360: Apple defeated claims that it discriminated against a female Spanish employee by ordering her to return to her London-based role as part of a post-pandemic policy, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Law360: Apple confirmed 21 June 2024 that the tech giant isn't planning on releasing new AI features in the EU this year due to 'regulatory uncertainties' involving the EU's new Digital Markets Act (EU DMA) and the potential security risks that complying with the DMA could pose to Apple users.

MLex: Apple, Google and Meta Platforms are the targets of the first formal EU probes over compliance with the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Commission believes measures related to choice screens, self-preferencing, ‘anti-sterring’ rules in apps, and Meta’s ‘pay or consent’ model may be at odds with the law against digital gatekeepers’ power. It is also taking investigative steps against Apple’s fee structure for its App Store and Amazon’s marketplace raking to ‘clarify’ whether those changes are compliant.

CASE HUB ARCHIVED–this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 25 July 2013; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline, commentary and related cases. Case facts Outline European Commission Article 101 TFEU investigation into restrictive agreements in the e-books sector (case number COMP/39.847). Latest developments Commitments offered by Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Hachette, Holtzbrinck and Apple were accepted by the European Commission on 13 December 2012 and commitments offered by Penguin were accepted by the Commission on 25 July 2013. The five publishers have agreed to terminate all existing agency agreements that include price restrictions and a price MFN clause; they have

Law360, London: The Court of Appeal unanimously rejected arguments by Apple, Visa, Mastercard and Sony on 4 July 2025 that widely-used funding agreements which calculate a funder's fee by a multiple are unenforceable in UK class action claims.

Law360, London: Apple, Visa, Mastercard and Sony told the Court of Appeal that funding agreements driving multiple competition class action claims are unlawful and unenforceable.

CASE HUB ARCHIVED–this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 6 September 2018; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline and commentary. Case facts Outline European Commission merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by Apple of Shazam (Case M.8788). The transaction raises non-horizontal concerns in relation to music streaming services. The transaction did not meet the EU Merger Regulation thresholds, and was instead referred to the Commission under Article 22. Latest developments On 6 September 2018, the Commission cleared the transaction unconditionally following an in-depth phase II review. Parties Apple is a US-based global technology company which designs, manufactures and sells mobile communication, media devices, portable digital music players and personal computers. It also sells and delivers digital content online through the ‘iTunes Store‘, the ‘App Store‘, ‘iBookstore‘ as well as ‘Mac App Store‘. Of particular relevance to this transaction, Apple offers the music streaming service Apple Music’, which in the last three years has become the second largest music streaming service provider in Europe. Shazam is a UK-based company that