Apple’s bid to overturn the European Commission’s “gatekeeper” designation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is rejected by the EU’s General Court, according to multiple outlets citing the court ruling. The case covers Apple’s App Store and iOS-related obligations. The General Court dismisses Apple’s actions challenging its designation as a gatekeeper in relation to the App Store and iOS, meaning the DMA requirements tied to that status remain in force.
Under the DMA framework, gatekeepers are subject to rules including limits on favoring their own services over rivals, restrictions on combining personal data across services, and an obligation to provide users with options to use alternative app stores. The designation is also linked to obligations affecting interoperability, including that iOS must allow rival services to interoperate with the platform.
Apple also contests how iMessage is classified under the DMA. Sources report the court rules parts of Apple’s challenge regarding iMessage are inadmissible, rather than granting relief. Overall, the rulings maintain the EU regulators’ approach to expanding competition in app distribution and platform access across the EU for large digital services.
