App Store: the French organization GESTE files a complaint against Apple
The GESTE has decided to file a complaint against Apple. This French organization, which brings together content publishers and online services, has decided to attack the iPhone manufacturer not in France but in the United States.
A GESTE complaint against Apple in the United States
After successfully forcing Apple to change App Store terms in the US, US law firm Hagens Berman hopes to do the same for developers in France. In the US case, Apple agreed to make a $100 million settlement and also allowed developers to have more contact with their users.
According to the GESTE complaint filed in federal court in Oakland, California, Apple abused its monopoly power over the distribution of applications on iPhones and iPads by imposing a single application store for these devices, namely the ‘AppStore. The plaintiffs believe this allowed Apple to charge 30% commissions for 14 years, as well as a $99 annual fee to app developers.
“The GESTE and its members are indeed at the forefront of several initiatives and fights for a more balanced and fairer functioning of the digital world in France and in Europe. By its nature and scale, today’s action demonstrates our determination to seek these changes and reparations.”, have declared Bertrand Gié, president of GESTE and head of digital at Le Figaro and Emmanuel Alix, vice-president of GESTE and head of digital at L’Équipe.
The case is therefore handled by the American law firm Hagens Berman and by the French lawyer Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi. “Apple’s policies and restrictions pose critical issues for all iOS developers using the App Store. A global problem needs a global solution. I believe that we can build strong bridges to design impactful actions, because we will leave no room for impunity”said the lawyer.
In his press release, Hagens Berman invites French iOS developers to contact Fayrouze Masmi-Dazi to learn more about the complaint and join the adventure. His disclosed email address is fmasmi-Dazi@outlook.com and his phone number is 0627962865.
As a reminder, the GESTE had already filed a complaint against Apple at the beginning of the year. It was in France and it was through the Competition Authority. The group criticized Apple’s anti-tracking methods for iOS.
