Apple has taken the European Commission to court over a €500 million ($587 million) fine imposed earlier this year for allegedly violating the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, a law designed to rein in the power of Big Tech.
The U.S. tech giant filed its appeal on Monday at the EU General Court—the bloc’s second-highest court—on the final day allowed for legal action. The Commission’s April decision accused Apple of restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper subscription options outside the App Store, a practice deemed to breach the DMA.
In a statement confirming the lawsuit, Apple said, “Today we filed our appeal because we believe the European Commission’s decision—and their unprecedented fine—goes far beyond what the law requires.” The company argued the Commission is overstepping by “mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms that are confusing for developers and bad for users.”
Apple recently revised its App Store policies in response to the EU’s ruling, removing some of the technical and commercial barriers that prevented developers from offering alternative pricing options. The changes were implemented to avoid steep daily fines — up to 5% of Apple’s global daily revenue, estimated at around €50 million per day.
The European Commission is currently reviewing the effectiveness of Apple’s policy adjustments and has invited feedback from app developers before determining whether further action is needed.