Apple Gets US Supreme Court Review on iPhone App Fee Suit

The US Supreme Court agreed to hear Apple's bid to kill an antitrust lawsuit over the market for iPhone apps in a case that could shield e-commerce companies from consumer claims over high commissions. The lawsuit accuses Apple of monopolizing the app market so it can charge excessive commissions of 30 percent. Apple, backed by the Trump administration, says it can’t be sued because the commission is levied on the app developers, not the purchasers who are suing. A victory for Apple could insulate companies that run online marketplaces and interact with consumers on behalf of third-party sellers. Companies that could be affected include Alphabet’s Google, Amazon, and Facebook, Apple told the Supreme Court in its appeal. "This is a critical question for antitrust law in the era of electronic commerce," Apple argued.