Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may soon confront a wave of class action-style damages claims across the European Union after the bloc’s highest court opened the door for consumers to pursue collective litigation in the Netherlands, regardless of where they live.
In a decision issued Tuesday, the EU Court of Justice ruled that an Amsterdam court is authorized to hear complaints brought by the foundations Stichting Right to Consumer Justice and Stichting App Stores. The groups allege that Apple’s App Store commission structure — with fees that can reach up to 30% on transactions — violates competition rules.
In its statement accompanying the preliminary judgment, the EU court said: “The Netherlands courts have jurisdiction to hear a representative action concerning the alleged anticompetitive conduct of Apple in relation to its App Store aimed at the Netherlands market.”
The decision potentially paves the way for a broader set of coordinated claims targeting Apple’s App Store policies within the EU.