Millions of UK Apple users could get pay-out after court ruling

Apple could be forced to pay up to £1.5bn in damages after losing a collective legal action court case brought on behalf of 36 million UK iPhone and iPad users, both consumers and businesses.

The Competition Appeals Tribunal found that Apple had abused its dominant position by charging "excessive and unfair" prices in the form of the 30% commission, which it usually levies both on app sales and in-app payments.

The claimants argued that this meant that consumers had been overcharged for apps, subscriptions to apps, and when buying digital content in apps.

Apple said it strongly disagreed with the ruling and would appeal.

The case was pursued by academic Dr Rachael Kent.

Her lawyers argue it is the first such claim brought under the UK's collective action regime to have succeeded.

Dr Kent called the decision a "landmark victory, not only for App Store users, but for anyone who has ever felt powerless against a global tech giant".

"Today's ruling sends a clear message: no company, however wealthy or powerful, is above the law."

The tribunal's decision comes a day after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) designated both Apple and Google as having "strategic market status" - effectively saying they have a lot of power over mobile platforms.

It means the competition watchdog could force Apple to allow rivals to operate their own app stores on iPhones in the UK.

This would be a significant change to Apple's "closed system", where apps can only be downloaded from its own App Store.

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