The European Union's General Court has upheld the designation of Apple's App Stores and iOS as "gatekeepers" under the Digital Markets Act. This decision means Apple must continue to comply with DMA regulations. These obligations include allowing third-party app stores on its devices. Apple is also required to enable interoperability with competing services. Furthermore, the company cannot unfairly prioritize its own services over those of rivals. The DMA also prevents gatekeepers from combining personal data across different services. Apple had previously challenged the classification of its App Stores and iOS in court. It also disputed iMessage being classified as a number-independent interpersonal communications service. However, the court found Apple's challenge regarding iMessage to be inadmissible. The ruling reinforces the EU's efforts to promote fair competition in digital markets.