Apple products are seen for sale at the new Apple Carnegie Library during the grand opening and media preview in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
WASHINGTON: A divided US Supreme Court on May 13 gave the go-ahead to an antitrust lawsuit accusing Apple Inc of forcing consumers to overpay for iPhone software applications, a decision that could lead to billions of dollars in damages and put at risk the company's lucrative way of selling apps.
In a 5-4 ruling, the justices upheld a lower court's decision to allow the proposed class action lawsuit to proceed. The consumer plaintiffs claim Apple monopolised the market in violation of federal antitrust law by requiring that apps be sold through its App Store and extracting an excessive 30% commission on purchases.
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