Apple Escapes Major Payout As US Judge Overturns Longstanding App Store Lawsuit - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Core Points - A U.S. federal judge has decertified a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc. regarding its alleged monopoly in the iPhone app market, impacting millions of customers [1] - The judge's decision reversed a previous ruling that allowed Apple account holders who spent $10 or more on apps over the last 17 years to sue collectively [2] - The decertification was based on the plaintiffs' failure to provide a reliable model demonstrating classwide injury and damages, with significant errors identified by an expert hired by Apple [3] Legal Context - The lawsuit was initiated in December 2011 and included users of iOS devices dating back to July 10, 2008 [2] - Plaintiffs claimed that Apple's monopoly resulted in excessive commissions for app developers, which were ultimately passed on to consumers through higher app prices [4] Antitrust Landscape - This ruling follows a recent loss for Apple in the U.K., where it was accused of abusing its dominant position by charging app developers a 30% commission [5] - Apple is also facing a new antitrust lawsuit in China, alleging it holds a monopoly over its iOS app ecosystem by forcing users to purchase digital goods exclusively through its in-app purchase system and charging up to 30% in commissions [6] Company Performance - Benzinga's Edge Rankings place Apple in the 76th percentile for quality and the 69th percentile for value, indicating strong performance in both areas [7]