EU Court Rejects Apple's Bid to Overturn Gatekeeper Label

Europe's highest court threw out Apple's effort to contest the European Commission's decision to classify its App Stores and iOS as gatekeeper services under the Digital Markets Act. The Luxembourg-based General Court issued the ruling on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

The General Court rejects Apple's core claims. "The General Court dismisses Apple's actions regarding its designation as a gatekeeper in relation to the App Store and iOS," the tribunal said. The tech giant brought the lawsuit in 2024 after regulators grouped its five App Stores targeting the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch into one core platform service.

That designation triggers multiple requirements. Gatekeepers reportedly cannot promote their own offerings ahead of competitors and are barred from merging user data between services. They must also permit customers to install apps from third-party stores.

Obligations extend to alternative app stores and iOS interoperability. Apple contested the separate ruling that labeled iOS a gateway platform, which allegedly forces the operating system to support rival services and allow them to work together with it.

iMessage classification ruled inadmissible. The company further objected to treating iMessage as a number-independent interpersonal communications service, or NIICS, a move that would bring it under European telecommunications regulations. Judges declared this portion of Apple's case inadmissible.

Gatekeeper criteria include revenue, market cap, and user thresholds. Under the DMA, firms qualify as gatekeepers if they generate at least €7.5 billion in EU sales or hold a market value of €75 billion or more. The rules also apply when platforms reach more than 45 million monthly active users and exceed 10,000 annual business users inside the bloc.

The decision maintains all original obligations that Apple must follow. The company has yet to comment on possible further legal action.