Kent V. Apple
Kent V. Apple Win
Victory for UK Apple Users
Court agrees with Dr Kent’s Landmark Class Action and finds Apple’s App Store Practices Unlawful.
On 23 October 2025 the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled in favour of Dr Rachael Kent in her claim against Apple, finding that Apple abused its dominant position in respect of the level of commission it charges on purchases of paid apps and in-app purchases of digital content, services and subscriptions in the app store.
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The Tribunal unanimously determined that the class is entitled to damages, currently estimated at approximately £1.5 billion. This judgment constitutes a landmark win for UK consumers.
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Apple applied to the Competition Appeal Tribunal for permission to appeal the judgment on 11 November 2025, which the Tribunal refused on 13 November 2025. See more here, Apple refused permission to appeal UK ruling on app store commissions, Reuters 2025.​
Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
Dr Rachael Kent Speaks On The Win
"This is a landmark victory — not only for App Store users, but for anyone who has ever felt powerless against a global tech giant. The Tribunal has confirmed that Apple has been unlawfully overcharging users for more than ten years – and that up to £1.5 billion should now be returned to UK consumers and businesses. Every in-app purchase, subscription, and paid download was inflated by Apple’s anti-competitive practices. Those unfair fees have added up to billions for the world’s richest company, and less choice and innovation for everyone else. This case proves that the UK’s collective action regime is working. It empowers ordinary people and small businesses to hold even the most powerful corporations to account. Today’s ruling sends a clear message: no company, however wealthy or powerful, is above the law."
Court of Appeal Hearing March 2027
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On 5 December 2025, Apple applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal the judgment. By an order dated 23 March 2026, the Court of Appeal adjourned Apple’s permission application to a “rolled-up” hearing, at which the Court will decide both whether to grant permission to appeal and, if permission is granted, the appeal itself. The hearing is to be listed in a window between 2 November 2026 and 24 March 2027 and is expected to last 3 to 5 days.​​​
The Trial
Kent v. Apple is the legal claim brought by Dr Kent against Apple.
Dr Kent alleges that Apple has contravened competition law. Dr Kent’s claim is an opt-out collective claim, which means that she automatically represents all those who fit the class definition, who are called class members. If you have spent money in the App Store, then you are likely included as a class member represented by Dr Kent.
Trial took place in the Competition Appeal Tribunal over seven weeks between 13 January 2025 – 28 February 2025.
Dr Kent's
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As the first ever female class representative, Dr Kent was tasked with representing 19.6 million UK consumers identified as Apple App Store users.
Being class representative, Dr Kent instructed the law firm Hausfield & Co. LLP to represent her in the claim, as well as partaking in the Evidence phase of the trial with her expert knowledge on Digital Economy.
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Hear more about Kent v. Apple in the Digital Health Diagnosed podcast episode here, featuring Hausfield Laywers.​
Role
"That’s what tech giants and marketeers like Apple are so brilliant at. It’s creating an ecosystem where we are foreclosed into decision making and we don’t even realise that this is actually how it’s happening."
Dr Rachael Kent, in The Guardian
Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
The Claim
Have you spent money in the App Store? If so, you may be entitled to compensation.
Apple has allegedly breached UK competition law by excluding competition and/or charging an unfair and excessive level of commission - usually as much as 30% - on purchases of paid apps and in-app purchases of digital content, services or subscriptions in the App Store. If you (or your business) have purchased an app or in-app digital content, services or subscriptions in the App Store on your iPhone or iPad since 1 October 2015 you (or your business) may be eligible for compensation.
Press and Media
For more updates go to the official Apple App Store Claim website here.
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Articles
Meet the British Academic Taking on Apple in 1.5bn Legal Challenge - The I Paper
Apple’s UK users deserve app price compensation, claim says – BBC News
Apple faces billion-pound legal action over App Store charges – Press Association
Apple Faces UK Class Action for Overcharging 20 Million Users – Bloomberg
Apple faces £1.5billion legal battle after being accused of 'overcharging' millions of UK customers for apps in its App Store – Daily Mail
Apple reveals it rejected or removed over 1MILLION malicious apps from its App Store in 2020 and stopped more than $1.5billion in potentially fraudulent transactions – Daily Mail
Apple accused of breaking UK competition law by overcharging for apps – The Guardian
Apple sued over ‘exorbitant’ fees on smartphone apps – The Times
Apple accused of iPhone app store overcharging – The Telegraph
I-MOAN - Millions of UK iPhone users ‘could get £75 payout EACH’ from Apple over ‘unfair’ app prices – The Sun
Apple App Store Sued for £1.5bn – The Sun
Apple facing £1.5bn legal claim with millions to get refunds for overpriced apps – The Mirror
Apple Faces UK Class Action Over App Store Charges – Dow Jones Institutional News
Apple faces UK legal claim over App Store charges – AFP
Apple faces £1.5bn claim for ‘overcharging’ on apps – Metro
Millions of Apple customers could be owed cashback in App Store ‘overcharging’ lawsuit – Evening Standard
Apple hit with £1.5bn UK lawsuit over ‘excessive’ app store charges – City A.M.
Apple: ‘Our App Store approach strengthens our privacy measures’ – i
Lecturer sues Apple over 'unlawful' fees – i
UK Apple CPO representative says digital trace will reveal losses – PaRR
Apple Dispute: A New Era of UK Class Actions? – Law.com
Hausfeld and Litigation Funder Launch £1.5 Billion Group Action Against Apple – Law.com
Apple faces collective action lawsuit seeking compensation for 20 million UK users – Mashable
Apple Hit With £1.5B Lawsuit Over App Store Charges – Law360
Apple slapped with UK class action over app payments – Proactive Investors
Apple faces UK class-action over "excessive" App Store charges – IT Pro
Apple hit with £1.5bn UK class action over alleged App Store overcharging – The Global Legal Post
UK class action lawsuit targets Apple's "anti-competitive practices" – Games Industry
UK consumers seek £1.5B from Apple – Mobile World Live
Apple hit by £1.5bn lawsuit over App Store 'overcharging' – Mac World
