Apple has failed to overturn the European Commission’s decision to bring the App Store and the iOS system within the scope of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The ruling strengthens the position of regulators and shows that European courts do not intend to weaken the new rules designed to curb the dominance of the largest technology platforms.
The General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg has dismissed Apple’s appeal challenging the classification of the App Store and iOS as so-called ‘gatekeepers’. This means that the company will still have to comply with the obligations under the DMA, which aim to facilitate competition and limit the dominance of the largest digital platforms.
As the court stated: “The Court rejects Apple’s arguments regarding its designation as a gatekeeper in relation to the App Store and iOS.”
Apple challenged the European Commission’s 2024 decision, arguing that iOS should not be treated as a key gateway enabling companies to reach users. The company also objected to the interoperability obligations, which require the ecosystem to be more open to competitors’ solutions.
The court also deemed Apple’s actions regarding the iMessage service to be unacceptable. However, this is mainly of procedural significance, as the European Commission had previously closed the proceedings and did not bring the messaging service under the DMA.
For the market, the ruling has implications that go beyond Apple itself. It confirms that the EU’s Digital Markets Act remains an effective tool for regulating the largest platforms, despite numerous attempts by Big Tech to undermine it. This sends an important signal to other companies covered by the regulations, such as Alphabet, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft, that legal action does not necessarily lead to a relaxation of the obligations under the DMA.
For developers and digital service providers, this means that the course of change initiated by the European Union will continue. Greater interoperability, easier access to users and a reduction in closed ecosystems are intended to boost competition in the market for apps and digital services. At the same time, Apple may still appeal against the ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
