Proton, a privacy-focused company, has stepped into a class action lawsuit against Apple, representing app developers who allege they have been unfairly affected by the company’s App Store policies. This decision comes in light of significant legal setbacks for Apple, including a €500 million fine from a European court and a US judge’s findings in the Epic Games v. Apple case, which revealed Apple’s possible wilful defiance of a court order.
Proton argues that if this lawsuit does not proceed, Apple may continue employing practices in the US that are already prohibited in other regions. This could lead to an increase in prices and fewer choices for consumers and developers alike.
Though the lawsuit seeks compensation for developers, Proton has committed to donating any received funds through its non-profit foundation to organizations dedicated to democracy and human rights. The ultimate objective is to instigate lasting changes in how the App Store is run.
A central point of contention is what developers refer to as the “Apple Tax,” which is the percentage Apple retains from in-app purchases. This fee is described in the lawsuit as arbitrarily excessive, with evidence suggesting that Apple’s profit margins on these fees are extraordinarily high.
Furthermore, Proton claims that Apple’s policies not only inflate prices but also compromise user privacy. Companies benefiting from user data face fewer obstacles from the fees, while privacy-centric companies struggle to compete.
The lawsuit further positions Apple as a potential “single point of failure” for free speech, highlighting instances where Apple has censored apps in regions like Russia and China. The complaint also criticizes Apple’s restrictive policies, which hinder user experience for both developers and users.
For instance, developers are barred from promoting alternate subscription options outside the app, and managing subscriptions across platforms proves cumbersome. Proton and the other developers involved in the suit aim to disrupt Apple’s monopolistic practices, advocating for a future with diverse app stores and payment systems to encourage innovation and a freer online environment.
They aspire to ensure that “free people, not monopolies,” shape the internet’s landscape.