A major European court dealt Apple a significant legal blow on Wednesday, dismissing the tech giant’s attempt to fight back against EU regulations that place tight restrictions on how it operates its digital platforms.
The Luxembourg-based General Court issued a clear ruling: “The General Court dismisses Apple’s actions regarding its designation as a gatekeeper in relation to the App Store and iOS.”
The court also determined that Apple’s legal challenge concerning its iMessage service could not be heard, declaring those claims inadmissible.
The dispute dates back to 2024, when the European Commission classified Apple’s five App Stores — available across iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches — as a single core platform service under the Digital Markets Act. That designation subjects Apple to a demanding set of obligations under the sweeping tech regulation.
Apple had also pushed back against the EU’s classification of its iOS operating system as a critical gateway through which businesses reach consumers. That designation requires Apple to allow competing services to work alongside its system.
Additionally, Apple had challenged the labeling of iMessage as a number-independent interpersonal communications service, a classification that could bring it under European telecommunications regulations.
The three cases before the court were identified as T-1079/23 Apple v Commission, T-1080/23 Apple v Commission, and T-214/24 Apple and Apple Distribution International v Commission.
