Apple has won an appeal over a competition probe into the UK mobile market, overturning a ruling that the company held a dominant position in the market. The case was brought forward by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which had previously accused Apple of abusing its market position by charging app developers excessive fees and forcing them to use Apple’s payment system.
The CMA had argued that Apple’s dominance in the mobile market was detrimental to consumers, as it limited competition and innovation. However, the Court of Appeal has now ruled that the CMA did not provide sufficient evidence to support its claims and that the watchdog had failed to properly define the relevant market in its investigation.
In a statement following the ruling, Apple said it was pleased with the outcome and that it had always believed it was in compliance with UK competition law. “We are proud to have strong relationships with thousands of developers across the UK who create great experiences for our customers,” the company said.
The ruling is a significant victory for Apple, which has faced increasing scrutiny over its practices in recent years. In addition to the CMA investigation, the company has been accused of anti-competitive behavior by other regulators around the world, including the European Union and the United States.
Despite the ruling, the CMA has vowed to continue its efforts to promote competition in the mobile market. “We will now carefully consider the court’s judgment and will continue to work with other regulators to promote competition and innovation in the tech sector,” a spokesperson for the watchdog said.
