Apple appeals against ‘unprecedented’ €500m EU fine over app store
Apple has launched an appeal against an “unprecedented” €500m (£430m) fine imposed by the EU on the company, in the latest clash between US tech companies and Brussels.The iPhone maker accused the European Commission – the EU’s executive arm – of going “far beyond what the law requires” in a dispute over its app store.In April, the commission fined Apple €500m after finding the company had breached the Digital Markets Act by preventing app developers from steering users to cheaper deals outside the app store.Last month, Apple overhauled its app store rules to comply with the EU order to scrap its technical and commercial curbs on developers in order to avoid fines of 5% of its average daily worldwide revenue, or about €50m a day.As a result Apple introduced new fee structures for developers using its app store.
On Monday, Apple accused Brussels of making it deploy “confusing” business terms in order to avoid the threat of fines.“Today we filed our appeal because we believe the European Commission’s decision – and their unprecedented fine – go far beyond what the law requires,” said Apple, announcing an appeal to the general court, the second highest court in the EU.“As our appeal will show, the EC is mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms which are confusing for developers and bad for users.”Apple also accused the commission of unlawfully expanding the definition of “steering” – or the language and methods the company allows developers to use when guiding consumers outside its app stores.The company said officials on Brussels had changed the definition by, for instance, not just focusing on whether app developers should be allowed to link to an external website, but also on whether developers should be permitted to promote offers inside an app.
Donald Trump’s senior trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has accused the EU of using “lawfare” against big US tech companies, describing the use of regulations against American companies such as Apple and Meta as part of a barrage of “non-tariff weapons” used for by foreign states against the US.Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission vice-president responsible for tech sovereignty, said in April that the EU will not rip up its tech rules in an attempt to agree a trade deal with the US.In January, Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of the Facebook owner Meta, accused the EU of “institutionalising censorship” via its digital rules.Sign up to Business TodayGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningafter newsletter promotionTrump has set a 9 July deadline to seal a trade deal with the bloc – with the threat of imposing a 50% tariff on EU imports into the US if agreement is not reached.Tom Smith, a competition lawyer at Geradin Partners and a former legal director at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, said Apple “fundamentally hates” attempts to change its app store.
“The blunt truth is that it is worth spending a few million on legal fees in order to disrupt and delay the development of a more open app ecosystem, which is a market that is worth many billions a year to Apple,” he said.A European Commission spokesperson said: “We stand ready to defend our decisions in court.”
People in the US: are you delaying major life decisions under Trump’s presidency?
As Donald Trump approaches six months in office as president, his administration’s agenda has shaken every corner of US life.According to research from Harris Poll, Americans are reconsidering major life events including marriage, having children and buying a home amid economic anxiety under the Trump administration.Six in 10 Americans said the economy had affected at least one of their major life goals, citing either lack of affordability or anxiety around the current economy.We want to hear from you. Have you been delaying major life decisions amid economic and political anxieties? When did things begin to feel destabilized? What effect in particular has delaying life decisions had on your household?You can tell us if you are delaying any major life decisions and your reasons why by filling in the form below
Thames Water refuses to claw back bonuses paid using £3bn emergency loan
Thames Water paid almost £2.5m to senior managers from an emergency loan that was meant to be used to keep the failing utilities company afloat – and has refused to claw back the payments, newly released documents reveal.The struggling water supplier paid bonuses totalling £2.46m to 21 managers on 30 April.The managers are due to receive the same amount again in December, and a further £10
Sony WH-1000XM6 review: raising the bar for noise-cancelling headphones
Sony’s latest top-of-the-range Bluetooth headphones seek to reclaim the throne for the best noise cancellers money can buy with changes inside and out.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.The Sony 1000X series has long featured some of the best noise cancelling you can buy and has been locked in a battle with rival Bose for the top spot
Futurist Adam Dorr on how robots will take our jobs: ‘We don’t have long to get ready – it’s going to be tumultuous’
If Adam Dorr is correct, robots and artificial intelligence will dominate the global economy within a generation and put virtually the entire human race out of a job. The social scientist doubles up as a futurist and has a stark vision of the scale, speed and unstoppability of a technological transformation that he says will replace virtually all human labour within 20 years.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more
Djokovic survives Cobolli onslaught to reach record 14th Wimbledon semi-final
The siren call of a record 25th grand slam title grows ever louder for Novak Djokovic. But he was given a scare by the punchy young Italian Flavio Cobolli, as well as a nasty fall on match point, before coming through a pulsating quarter-final to win 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.Djokovic’s reward is a record 14th Wimbledon semi-final, one ahead of Roger Federer, and a meeting with the world No 1, Jannik Sinner, on Friday. It is a battle he is clearly relishing.“It motivates me to see how much I can still keep going with these guys toe to toe,” he said
Wimbledon 2025 quarter-finals: Djokovic defeats Cobolli to set up Sinner clash – as it happened
Before that we’ve got a tremendous Thursday in store, with Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek bidding to set up a first grand slam final against each other – what a prospect that is – as they face the underdogs Amanda Anisimova and Belinda Bencic respectively. Do join Daniel for coverage of those matches, and I’ll be back on Friday. Thanks for your company, as always. Bye!The men’s semi-finals are set. And Friday can’t come soon enough:Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz v Taylor FritzDjokovic’s numbers are ridiculous
Sinner eases past Shelton in straight sets to seal Wimbledon semi-final spot
Sportswomen facing ‘horrific burden of routine misogynistic attacks and threats’, campaigners say
‘He’s very determined’: England look to Archer before pivotal third Test
Tour de France 2025: Evenepoel wins stage five time trial as Pogacar takes yellow jersey –as it happened
Tour de France 2025: Evenepoel wins time trial as Pogacar powers into yellow
Battling Norrie and Kartal light way for British tennis after Draper’s damp squib | Tumaini Carayol