The High Court In US Allowed The Consumer Lawsuit On Apple To Push Through
US SUPREME COURT – A consumer lawsuit against the tech company accusing them of monopolizing their app store was permitted by US Supreme court.
The recent lawsuit opens a new path of legal action for antitrust against the company.
Apple is the manufacturer of the famous iPhones. Recently, they released iPhone X, the highly advanced mobile gadget that triggered online ‘hype’ last year.
Meanwhile, in a 5-4 court ruling, judges dismissed Apple’s statement that the consumers did not have adequate basis to pursue their lawsuit since it was only an intermediary between app makers and developers.
It was revealed in the class-action lawsuit that Apple takes 30 percent from app sales via commission. And it’s abusing it’s monopoly position which, in result, spikes up app prices.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a newly accepted court member, wrote that the consumers had rights that back their pursuance of their case because they have a direct connection with the tech company.
In his judgement, Justice Kavanaugh explained:
“If a retailer has engaged in unlawful monopolistic conduct that has caused consumers to pay higher-than-competitive prices, it does not matter how the retailer structured its relationship with an upstream manufacturer or supplier.”
This is according to an article from ABS CBN News.
Alongside Kavanaugh were jsutices Ruth Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor.
Another judgement presented on the court was written by justice Neil Gorsuch with other conservatives. It agreed with Apple’s statement that app developers sell to consumers and not to their company.
It also claimed that the lawsuit is based on “pass-on” liability.
Apple, on the other hand, did not released another statement in response to AFP’s query on the decision.
That is all there is to it, at least for now. We’ll post updates as soon as we got them.
