Apple Accused of Antitrust! iCloud Subscription Prices Too High? 40 Million UK Users to Receive Compensation?

Apple Accused of Antitrust! iCloud Subscription Prices Too High? 40 Million UK Users to Receive Compensation?Consumer rights group "Which?" has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on behalf of approximately 40 million iCloud users in the UK, accusing the company of violating competition law and seeking 3 billion (approximately 3.5 billion) in damages

Apple Accused of Antitrust! iCloud Subscription Prices Too High? 40 Million UK Users to Receive Compensation?

Consumer rights group "Which?" has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on behalf of approximately 40 million iCloud users in the UK, accusing the company of violating competition law and seeking 3 billion (approximately 3.5 billion) in damages.

"Which?" argues that Apple has abused its dominant market position by forcing users to subscribe to its own iCloud service for storing personal data, while not allowing the use of services from other providers to achieve the same backup effect. They claim that Apple's iCloud subscription fees are excessively high. They point out that Apple encourages users to register for iCloud storage for photos, videos and other data, making it difficult for alternative providers. Once users have registered for iCloud and their data exceeds the free 5GB limit, they are forced to pay for the service. Moreover, Apple raised iCloud subscription prices in the UK by 20-29% in 2023.

"Which?" states that they are seeking compensation for all affected Apple customers an initial estimate suggests that around 40 million Apple customers in the UK may be eligible for compensation, with an average of around 70 (approximately 80) per consumer, depending on the length of their iCloud subscription.

In response, Apple has stated that users are not required to use iCloud and that many users utilize third-party alternatives. They claim that their customers have a choice and many rely on third-party data storage services. Additionally, Apple stated that they strive to make data transfer as simple as possible whether it be to iCloud or other services.

This lawsuit is expected to have a significant impact on Apple, raising concerns about the company's data storage strategy and pricing. The outcome of this lawsuit will determine whether Apple needs to change its iCloud strategy and whether other tech companies will face similar lawsuits.