Apple Scores Legal Victory as Judge Decertifies 2011 App Store Antitrust Lawsuit

Apple won a significant victory in an antitrust lawsuit filed in 2011, which accused the company of monopolizing the iPhone app market. The lawsuit claimed Apple prevented users from downloading apps outside the App Store. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, overseeing the case, decertified it, ending its status as a class action. The plaintiffs struggled to demonstrate widespread harm and provide a method for calculating damages affecting all iPhone users. This decertification means individuals must now file separate lawsuits against Apple regarding this issue. Apple expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, emphasizing its investments in the App Store's safety and developer opportunities. The court had previously granted class action status in 2023 but warned the plaintiffs about proving damages. However, the plaintiffs' expert testimony and data analysis proved unreliable and contained significant errors. Judge Rogers deemed the expert unqualified and their methods unreliable, leading to the dismissal of the data. The plaintiffs failed to provide a viable method for matching Apple IDs to consumers, making it impossible to prove class-wide damages.