Apple Accused of Abusing iOS Monopoly, UK Consumer Group Sues for 3 Billion

Apple Accused of Abusing iOS Monopoly, UK Consumer Group Sues for 3 BillionThe UK consumer group Which? has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on behalf of approximately 40 million iCloud users, accusing the company of violating competition laws and seeking 3 billion (about 27.594 billion yuan) in compensation from the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT)

Apple Accused of Abusing iOS Monopoly, UK Consumer Group Sues for 3 Billion

The UK consumer group Which? has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on behalf of approximately 40 million iCloud users, accusing the company of violating competition laws and seeking 3 billion (about 27.594 billion yuan) in compensation from the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). The organization argues that Apple has abused its monopoly position in the iOS operating system, forcing users to sign up for its iCloud service to store personal data while preventing them from using other manufacturers' services to achieve the same backup effect. Additionally, they accuse Apple of charging excessive fees for iCloud, even describing it as "extortion".

"Which?" believes that Apple has a responsibility to avoid using its monopoly position in the iOS operating system to gain unfair advantages in related markets, such as the cloud storage market. However, this is not the case. Once iOS users exceed the free 5GB limit for photos, notes, messages, and other data, they must pay to use iCloud services. More infuriating for users is that Apple increased the subscription prices for all iCloud tiers in the UK by 20% to 29% this year.

Here are the current iCloud subscription prices in the UK:

• 50GB: 0.99 (about 9.1 yuan)

• 200GB: 2.99 (about 27.5 yuan)

• 2TB: 8.99 (about 82.7 yuan)

• 6TB: 26.99 (about 248 yuan)

• 12TB: 54.99 (about 506 yuan)

In contrast, the iCloud subscription prices in mainland China are:

• 50GB: 6

• 200GB: 21

• 2TB: 68

• 6TB: 198

• 12TB: 398

"Which?" states that they are seeking compensation for all affected Apple customers, with a preliminary estimate of 70 (about 644 yuan) per consumer, depending on the length of their iCloud subscription.

It is worth noting that in March of this year, Apple faced a similar lawsuit in the United States, with consumers accusing the company of illegally monopolizing the cloud storage market. This lawsuit is still pending.

The lawsuit filed by "Which?" highlights the controversy surrounding Apple's monopoly position in the cloud storage market. The organization believes that Apple's actions violate fair competition principles and harm user interests. They hope to use the lawsuit to force Apple to change its business strategy, provide users with more choices, and reduce iCloud service fees.

The outcome of this lawsuit is critical for Apple. If "Which?"'s accusations are proven true, Apple could face hefty fines and be forced to change its iCloud business model. This would not only affect Apple's financial status but also pose a challenge to its position in the cloud storage market.

Here are some related comments:

• One user said, "Apple uses its control over the iOS operating system to force us to use their iCloud service. It's extortion."

• Another user pointed out, "iCloud prices are too high, and the service quality is not good. Apple should offer more choices and lower prices."

It is foreseeable that this antitrust lawsuit will continue in the coming period and attract widespread attention. The outcome will have a profound impact on the operating strategies of Apple and other tech giants in the cloud storage market.