Apple denies ‘locking in’ iCloud customers as £3bn authorized declare introduced by Which? reaches court docket

Apple has dismissed a authorized declare that it has breached UK competitors regulation by overcharging and “trapping” customers who enroll to make use of its iCloud storage service, on the primary day of a court docket listening to relating to the matter.

The tech big is the topic of a £3bn authorized motion raised in opposition to it by Which?, with the buyer rights advocate claiming that Apple has locked thousands and thousands of UK shoppers into utilizing its iCloud storage expertise by means of its “rip-off” pricing since 1 October 2015.

A 3-day court docket listening to into the matter, scheduled to conclude on 21 November 2025, begins right now. Its objective is to find out if Which? must be granted permission by the Competitors Attraction Tribunal to behave as a category consultant on this matter, in order that it might pursue compensation on behalf of the 41 million UK iCloud customers it claims have been affected by Apple’s behaviour.

Which? first filed its grievance in opposition to Apple in November 2024, and acknowledged on the time that its intention was to safe £3bn in compensation for the UK-based Apple system customers it claims have been “unfairly” locked into utilizing the iCloud service.

Particularly, Which? claimed that Apple has breached competitors regulation by “favouring its personal cloud storage companies” on iOS gadgets, and by failing to resolve technical restrictions that lock customers into the iCloud platform, whereas making it tough for customers to hunt out different suppliers.

“It’s Which?’s perception that Apple, the second-largest public firm on the planet, has abused its place, stifling competitors and ripping off thousands and thousands of shoppers within the course of,” stated Which?, in a press release. “Which? asserts that this has led to shoppers being overcharged every year by means of their month-to-month iCloud subscription charges.” 

In accordance with Which?, the court docket listening to marks a “vital milestone within the battle for extra selection within the shopper cloud market” and, if profitable, might “assist thousands and thousands of shoppers get redress for Apple’s anti-competitve abuse”, the organisation’s assertion continued.

Which? CEO Anabel Hoult added that the court docket listening to itself is an “important step” within the organisation’s “struggle” to signify the thousands and thousands of UK shoppers it believes are owned practically £3bn in compensation on account of Apple’s alleged behaviour.

“Which? desires to clarify that no firm can abuse its place with out dealing with severe repercussions,” stated Hoult. “Taking this authorized motion means we may also help shoppers to get the redress that they’re owed, deter different firms from utilizing related ways and drive a extra aggressive market with optimistic outcomes for shoppers.”

When Which? first introduced particulars of the authorized motion, Apple shared a press release with Laptop Weekly, outlined its rejection of “any suggestion” that its iCloud practices are anti-competitive. The assertion added: “And [Apple] will vigorously defend in opposition to any authorized declare in any other case.”

On the primary day of the court docket listening to, an Apple spokesperson restated its view to Laptop Weekly that the corporate has no case to reply. “These claims are unfounded,” the spokesperson stated. “We work exhausting to make iCloud an amazing expertise, however no buyer is required to make use of it and prospects within the UK have loads of options to select from.”