Apple loses German antitrust case

The German Federal Constitutional Court ruled on March 18 local time that Apple lost the lawsuit against the German antitrust regulator and will face stricter supervision in Germany. In 2023, the German antitrust agency, the Federal Cartel Office, determined that Apple has a dominant market position and is a company that is essential to market competition. For companies in this position, the agency can prohibit their anti-competitive behavior. The German court also refused to consult with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on the case at the request of Apple’s legal team. Apple’s App Store has been subject to strict scrutiny in Europe, and regulators have expressed concerns about the large amount of user behavior data it collects.