A UK tribunal has ruled against Apple in an antitrust lawsuit, determining that the company imposed "excessive and unfair prices."

An important antitrust lawsuit in the UK has concluded with a ruling against Apple, finding that the company imposed "excessive and unfair prices" related to app distribution and in-app purchases.

According to Reuters, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) determined that Apple misused its leading market status in app distribution to charge consumers unfairly high prices.

The case was initiated by academic Rachael Kent, who contended that Apple's 30% commission fee resulted in "exorbitant profits" for the company at the expense of consumers, developers, and businesses.

Apple intends to contest the verdict. The firm might be required to pay £1.5 billion in damages, with a decision expected at a hearing the following week that will also address Apple's appeal.

An Apple representative commented on the ruling through a statement on BBC News, saying, "This ruling overlooks the role of the App Store in helping developers thrive and offering consumers a secure, reliable platform to find apps and conduct transactions."

"The App Store is subject to stiff competition from various platforms, many of which offer fewer privacy and security safeguards," the spokesperson added.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Chris Hewish, president of Xsolla, described the judgment as a "major shift for mobile gaming." He emphasized that the Tribunal's assessment of Apple's 30% commission as excessive could provide much-needed relief to developers burdened by the high fees.

"Should the ruling stand, it might reduce Apple’s commission to more competitive levels, enhancing revenue for studios and potentially leading to lower in-app pricing," Hewish explained.

Hewish further remarked, "The decision also supports the push for alternative payment solutions and distribution systems, which could challenge Apple’s control over the iOS ecosystem. Although Apple is set to appeal, the ruling adds to the mounting global regulatory scrutiny and might quicken the pace towards fairer revenue sharing, thereby enabling mobile game developers to invest more in content, marketing, and innovation rather than platform fees."