A French court has set a date for the hearing of a lawsuit against Apple filed by the country's finance ministry over alleged abusive contract terms in the App Store.
The case will be heard before a Paris commercial court on September 17, 2021, as Reuters now reported. Although it is unlikely to result in significant fines, the court could force Apple to change some of its contract terms in the country. In France, local law allows the country's finance minister to sue companies when abusive commercial practices are discovered in contracts. The case was brought against Apple following a three-year investigation by France's consumer protection agency CGCCRF.
Antitrust disputes: Apple is under global attack
France's Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire last year accused Apple of being part of a small group of tech giants that "reap the majority of the profits" in the country. The case in France is reminiscent of a similar lawsuit filed by Epic Games against Apple over App Store policies, such as charging a 30% commission on app and in-app purchases and banning third-party app stores. This is not the only investigation Apple is facing in France. The Cupertino tech giant has also faced an antitrust complaint over personalized advertising on iOS. Apple is in the midst of a series of antitrust battles around the globe. In the US, for example, the US House Judiciary Committee is currently reviewing several bills that could force tech giants like Apple to change their business practices. (Photo by ibphoto / Bigstockphoto)
