Apple has lost an appeal against the German court’s decision that would subject the company to strict organizational controls.
The Federal Court of Justice upheld the designation of Apple in the German Cartel office for 2023 as a “prominent importance in the market to compete”, which places the technology giant alongside other major companies such as the parental alphabet of Google and Meta in the face of potential measures aimed at reducing market dominance.
The court’s decision comes after years of discussion about the position of Apple market in Germany, where the organizers raised concerns about its impact on competition. Apple opposed the ruling, on the pretext that it ignores the importance of its business model, which gives priority to the user’s privacy and safety.
In a preliminary ruling in January, the court indicated its intention to support the position of the German organizer, and on Tuesday, it also refused to request a consultation from the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, according to the Apple Legal team. This decision enhances Apple’s continuous scrutiny, especially with regard to the practices of the application store.
European organizers have already reported the Apple data on the user’s behavior and its potential impact on the competition.
The German Cartel Office welcomed the court’s decision, as President Andreas Mundt said that it guarantees that Apple will face tougher control. Mondad also pointed out that the office review of Apple policies, especially those that govern the tracking of third -party applications, will continue in a solid ground where they continue to achieve them in Apple and other large technology companies.
