The European Union's General Court has fully dismissed Apple's challenge against its designation as a 'gatekeeper' under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), upholding the company's dominant position over iOS and the App Store. The ruling, issued today in Luxembourg, marks a clear defeat for the Cupertino giant, which had contested its designation on all three fronts: iOS, the App Store, and iMessage.
Apple's legal battle against the DMA
The Digital Markets Act is an EU antitrust law that imposes specific obligations on so-called 'gatekeeper platforms', considered powerful enough to abuse their position and hinder competition. Apple was designated a gatekeeper for iOS and the App Store because developers cannot access the app market without going through Apple's system, which holds full control. The company has always contested this label, arguing that the DMA goes beyond what is lawful and proportionate, threatening user privacy and security. However, the General Court declared the iMessage appeal inadmissible and rejected the other two on the merits.
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What this means for iOS and the App Store
With this judgment, Apple remains subject to DMA obligations, including allowing alternative app stores, enabling external payment systems for developers, and ending imposed commissions. The decision strengthens the hand of EU antitrust regulators, who aim to create space for rivals and offer Europeans more choice. Apple has already criticized the law, calling it disproportionate, but has not yet announced whether it will appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the EU's highest court.
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Big tech under European scrutiny
This ruling comes amid intense regulation of major tech companies. Separately, Sam Altman wants to give Americans a stake in OpenAI, raising questions about Europe's position in the AI landscape. The EU is also investigating Google and Meta for similar practices. Apple may attempt a final appeal, but experts believe the chances of success are slim, as the General Court already dismissed all arguments. The company will likely have to comply with the new rules, with significant impacts on its European business model.
For more information, the full DMA text is available on the Court of Justice website, which also details the appeals process.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/08/apple-loses-major-antitrust-appeal-in-europe-remains-a-gatekeeper
