Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock Takes Hit: UK Court Denies Appeal in App Store Case—Forced to Pay $2 Billion

Apple's legal woes just got costlier. A UK court slammed the door on its appeal in the App Store commission case—now the tech giant must cough up $2 billion.

The ruling that shook Cupertino

No wiggle room left. Judges upheld the original verdict, leaving Apple’s arguments dead in the water. The payout? A cool $2 billion—barely a week’s revenue for the iPhone maker, but a symbolic blow to its walled-garden ethos.

Regulators keep swinging

Another day, another antitrust headache. While Apple spins its ‘developer-friendly’ narrative, courts keep calling its bluff. This loss follows a global pattern—from Epic Games to Spotify, everyone’s gunning for App Store fees.

Wall Street shrugs (for now)

AAPL dipped briefly on the news before stabilizing. Because let’s face it—when you’re sitting on $200B+ cash reserves, even billion-dollar fines are just ‘cost of doing business’ line items. Cue eye-rolls from retail investors.

The bottom line

Apple’s legal fortress has cracks. Whether this emboldens more challenges—or finally forces fee restructuring—remains the billion-dollar question. Or in this case, the two-billion-dollar one.

TLDR

• Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) closed at $272.69, down 0.29%, amid ongoing legal battles in the UK.
• The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) denied Apple’s request to appeal a ruling over unfair App Store fees.
• Apple faces potential damages of up to $2 billion for abusing its dominant position.
• The company plans to take its case to the UK Court of Appeal within 21 days.
• Apple maintains the App Store is a competitive and secure platform benefiting both developers and consumers.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) traded at $272.69, down 0.29% as of early Thursday afternoon, following news that the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) refused its application to appeal a ruling on App Store commissions.

Apple Inc., AAPL

The tribunal had earlier found Apple guilty of abusing its dominant market position by imposing unfair fees on app developers.

The tribunal’s decision leaves Apple facing potential damages exceeding £1 billion ($1.3 billion). While Apple cannot appeal within CAT, it retains the right to take its case to the UK Court of Appeal. Apple’s lawyers have requested 21 days to file the necessary application.

Apple Denied Permission to Appeal UK App Store Ruling https://t.co/JbLk1Xn6f6 pic.twitter.com/0rCLGTlAMr

— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) November 13, 2025

Tribunal’s Findings and Developer Claims

Last month’s ruling determined that Apple’s standard 30% commission fee was excessive compared to what WOULD be considered fair market rates, estimated at 17.5%. The CAT concluded that developers had been overcharged, and roughly 50% of those costs were passed on to consumers.

The case, initiated by Dr. Rachael Kent, covered transactions from October 2015 through February 2024 and could result in a payout exceeding £1.2 billion when interest is included. Kent described the verdict as “one step closer to App Store users finally seeing their money rightfully returned.”

Apple’s Response and Legal Strategy

Apple responded by reiterating its disagreement with the tribunal’s findings, arguing that the CAT took a “flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy.” The company maintains that the App Store fosters competition and offers developers and users a safe, trusted marketplace.

Apple’s legal team contends that the tribunal’s damages calculations were based on “informed guesswork.” The company argues that its fees should not have been compared to those of other platforms like Steam, Epic, and Microsoft, which lack equivalent developer tools and services.

Apple’s court filings also emphasized that developers may not have reduced consumer prices even if commission rates were lower. The company plans to use these arguments when appealing to the Court of Appeal, expected to begin no later than December 5, 2025, once formal denial documentation is issued.

Market and Performance Overview

Despite mounting legal challenges, Apple’s financial performance remains strong. As of November 13, 2025, AAPL’s year-to-date return stands at 9.38%, while the one-year return is 21.67%, outperforming the S&P 500’s 13.06%. Over three and five years, Apple has posted 84.90% and 134.88% returns, respectively, continuing to outperform the benchmark index.

Outlook

The CAT’s decision represents a significant regulatory setback for Apple, which is facing heightened scrutiny across global markets. The company’s next legal steps will be closely monitored, as the outcome could influence how digital platform commissions are structured worldwide.