Stefan Mileschin

Tech giant faces legal battles over billions

Apple is facing a double whammy of legal troubles that could cost it billions of dollars and shake up its cosy empire.

The tech giant is under fire in the US and the EU over its shady deals and greedy practices that have given it a stranglehold over the mobile market.

In the US, a court case has exposed how Apple raked in billions from Google to make it the default search engine on the iPhone. But if the plaintiffs win, Apple could lose a quarter of its services income, which is worth over $85 billion a year.

Meanwhile, in the EU, Apple is being forced to let iPhone users download apps from other sources, breaking its monopoly over the App Store. This could hit Apple's profits hard, as it charges developers a whopping 30 per cent fee on digital purchases. Games alone make up more than half of that revenue.

Apple has tried to resist this change, claiming it will make its system less secure, but critics say it is just a greedy ploy to keep milking its customers.

Apple is not the only one in the firing line, as Google's Play Store, which charges a similar fee, also lost a landmark trial against Epic Games in California in December.

But Apple faces more competition from rivals who want to challenge its dominance and offer alternative app stores and payment methods on its devices. Microsoft is even planning to launch its own mobile store.

Apple has enjoyed a cushy ride for years, ever since Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone in 2007. But now it faces a tough fight to keep its mobile crown.
https://fudzilla.com/news/mobile/581...-water-in-2024