EU court dismisses Apple challenge to App Store and iOS gatekeeper rules
The General Court rejected Apple’s appeal against the EU’s classification of iOS and the App Store under the Digital Markets Act, leaving the bloc’s platform obligations in place.
Europe’s General Court dismissed Apple’s challenge to its designation as a gatekeeper for the App Store and iOS under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, preserving obligations aimed at opening those platforms to rivals. The ruling upholds the European Commission’s September 5, 2023 designation and strengthens the legal foundation for DMA enforcement, including a €500 million fine imposed on Apple in April 2025 over anti-steering rules that barred developers from directing users to cheaper purchasing options outside the App Store. The decision matters for app developers because DMA obligations require Apple to permit alternative app marketplaces on iOS and allow third-party payment systems, potentially lowering costs and widening distribution options in the EU, including for crypto-related apps.
- Digital Markets Act: An EU law that imposes obligations on large digital platforms designated as gatekeepers.
- gatekeeper: A platform deemed an important access point between businesses and users and therefore subject to stricter EU rules.
- anti-steering: Restrictions that prevent developers from directing users to alternative purchasing options outside a platform’s own payment system.