Published: October 27, 2025 at 8:30 am
Apple faces paying up to £1.5 billion in compensation after the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled that it abused its dominant market position by overcharging millions of UK iPhone and iPad users for apps and in-app purchases.
The case – Kent v Apple – was brought by Dr Rachael Kent, senior lecturer at King’s College London, who has made history as the first female Class Representative under the UK’s collective action regime.
The tribunal found that Apple had ‘imposed exclusionary practices’ and charged ‘excessive and unfair’ fees on app purchases, subscriptions and digital content over a ten-year period.
The ruling, in favour of Dr Kent on all aspects of her claim, concluded that users were overcharged for digital purchases made through popular apps including YouTube, Tinder, Fortnite and Candy Crush, among others.
The commission did not apply to transactions for physical goods or services such as Uber or Deliveroo.