UK Developers Unite: Over 1,500 App Makers Launch Class Action Suit Against Apple for Unfair App Store Fees

Over 1,500 U.K.-based developers slapped a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc AAPL involving a penalty of up to £800 million (over $1 billion).

The plaintiffs alleged the iPhone maker of abusing a dominant position by charging an “anti-competitive” 30% fee on in-app sales made by app makers on its iOS App Store. Also, Apple deprived U.K. consumers and developers of money spent on R&D to drive forward app innovation, TechCrunch reports.

Also Read: Musk’s Twitter War On Apple Acts As Fodder For Spotify And Epic Games’ Fight Against iPhone Maker

Sean Ennis, a professor of competition policy at the University of East Anglia who has held positions at the OECD, U.S. Department of Justice, and European Commission, launched the suit on behalf of over 1,500 U.K.-based developers.

Spotify Technology S.A. SPOT and Epic Games have railed for years against Apple’s unfair “tax,” filing their high-profile complaints against its App Store policies and fees with regulators and courts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Even Elon Musk had commented against Apple’s commission on in-app purchases.

Apple had always justified the fees by saying it provided iOS users with a premium experience.

Price Action: AAPL shares traded higher by 0.42% at $193.55 in the premarket on the last check Tuesday.