Maya Robertson
Apple has lost its legal challenge against the European Union’s designation of the App Store as a “gatekeeper,” after the EU’s General Court upheld the European Commission’s decision, leaving the company subject to the obligations imposed under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to Reuters.
The ruling confirms that the App Store meets the criteria for gatekeeper status under the DMA, legislation introduced to curb the market power of major digital platforms and promote greater competition across the European Union. The decision means Apple must continue complying with the regulation’s requirements, including measures designed to give developers and consumers more choice within its app ecosystem.
Apple argued that the App Store should not have been designated as a gatekeeper because it did not function as an important gateway between businesses and consumers in the way defined by the DMA. However, the General Court rejected that argument, finding that the European Commission had correctly assessed the App Store’s role and influence in the mobile app marketplace.
The court stated that the Commission had sufficiently demonstrated the App Store’s significance as a distribution channel for app developers seeking to reach iPhone users. As a result, the judges concluded that Apple’s marketplace satisfies the legal threshold established by the Digital Markets Act.
The decision represents another legal setback for Apple as it continues to face increasing regulatory scrutiny in Europe. Since the DMA came into force, the company has been required to introduce a series of changes across the EU, including support for alternative app marketplaces, expanded payment options for developers, and greater interoperability with third-party services.
The ruling also reinforces the European Commission’s broader enforcement strategy under the DMA, which currently applies to several major technology companies designated as gatekeepers due to their scale and influence over digital markets. The framework is intended to prevent dominant platforms from using their position to disadvantage competitors or limit consumer choice.
Apple said it was disappointed with the judgment and maintained that the App Store operates in a highly competitive environment. The company argued that the Commission underestimated competition from alternative methods through which consumers discover and access digital services. Apple may still appeal the decision before the European Court of Justice on points of law.
The judgment does not introduce new obligations for Apple but confirms that the company must continue complying with the existing DMA requirements while the European Commission pursues broader enforcement actions against large digital platforms. The ruling is expected to strengthen the Commission’s position as it continues implementing the landmark legislation across the technology sector.
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