British consumer group Which? is taking legal action against Apple under competition law, on behalf of 40 million users of the iCloud service. The proceedings seek £3 billion ($3.8 billion) in damages. According to the consumer group, Apple violated competition rules by granting preferential treatment to its own cloud storage service, but also by forcing consumers to pay iCloud for “rip-off” prices.
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40 million consumers affected
“iOS has a monopoly and is controlled directly by Apple. It is incumbent on the firm not to use this dominant position to gain an unfair advantage in related markets like cloud storage, but that is exactly what is happening” can we read in the Which? press release. The procedure accuses Apple in particular of encouraging iOS users to sign up for iCloud to store photos, for example, while making it difficult to use alternatives: for example, it is not possible to use any other solution than iCloud to store all of the data on your smartphone.
Note also that the legal action also concerns increased prices among British users. “Apple has increased the price of iCloud for UK consumers by between 20% and 29% across all its storage tiers in 2023” can we read, indicating at the same time requesting damages for all Apple customers concerned. Which? thus estimates that users should receive around 70 pounds sterling each depending on the length of time they have been registered with iCloud services. According to Which? spokesperson Tommy Handley said eligible Apple customers are those who have taken advantage of iCloud services (including non-subscriber users) in the last nine years (since the rights law came into force). of consumers of the 1st October 2015).
It didn't take long for Apple to respond: “We reject any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anti-competitive and will vigorously defend against any legal allegations to the contrary“. The battle will therefore be legal.
