Apple Faces New App Store Rules After Losing Antitrust Appeal in Germany

Apple has lost its antitrust appeal in Germany, as the Federal Court of Justice upheld a regulatory assessment that designates Apple as a 'company of paramount cross-market significance for competition.' This ruling means that Germany can impose stricter rules on how iPhone apps are sold. The case centers around the Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office)’s argument that Apple’s App Store practices create potential harm to consumers, allowing regulators to intervene earlier compared to US law, which requires actual consumer harm to be demonstrated. Despite Apple's claim that it does not hold a dominant position in the broader app market, European regulators view its exclusive control over iPhone apps as significant enough to justify intervention. The specific rules that will be imposed by Germany are yet unclear, given that EU law already mandates allowing third-party app stores.