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Having already announced that it would certify collective proceedings brought by Dr Rachael Kent against Apple in relation to alleged abuses of dominance in the distribution of iPhone and iPad apps through the ‘App Store’ (see news 6 May), the Competition Appeal Tribunal has now handed down its judgment in relation to Dr Kent’s application for a collective proceedings order (CPO) setting out its detailed reasons for concluding that Dr Kent’s application was well-founded.
The judgment also dismisses Apple’s application to strike out Dr Kent’s claim that App Store Commissions paid by consumers who buy apps and digital content on iPhones and iPads are excessive and unfair. The CAT found that Dr Kent has reasonable grounds for making the claim and she had properly addressed the various elements of the legal test for excessive pricing.
The effect of the judgment is that all of the abuse of dominance claims advanced by Dr Kent have been permitted to proceed to trial on a collective basis.
Ronit Kreisberger QC and Michael Armitage act for the authorised class representative, Dr Rachael Kent, instructed by Hausfeld LLP.