According to AppleInsider, French consumer group CLCV has filed a representative action lawsuit against Apple over music streaming subscription pricing. The claim argues that iPhone and iPad users paid $1 to $3 more per month when subscribing through the App Store compared to web subscriptions. This legal challenge covers the entire period from 2011 through 2025 and specifically targets Apple’s commission structure of 30% in the first year dropping to 15% afterward. The lawsuit builds on a March 2024 European Commission ruling that fined Apple $1.95 billion for antitrust violations in music streaming. Similar actions are now underway in Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal seeking about $67 million in restitution collectively.
Apple’s Services model under fire
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just about a few dollars per user. This lawsuit directly challenges the economic foundation of Apple’s entire Services business, which has become crucial as hardware sales growth slows. Apple’s commission structure isn’t some minor fee – it’s the engine that powers their App Store revenue. And music streaming is the perfect test case because the math is so transparent. When developers have to pay 30%, they either absorb the cost or pass it to consumers. But Apple’s defense is interesting – they’re pointing to Spotify’s dominant 56% market share in Europe as proof their system works.
The Spotify paradox
Apple makes a compelling counter-argument: Spotify hasn’t paid them a dime since 2018, when they removed in-app subscriptions. If Apple’s fees were really the problem, shouldn’t prices have dropped? Instead, Spotify actually raised its Premium price in France by about $1 in June. So who’s really controlling pricing here? It’s a classic chicken-and-egg situation that the court will need to untangle. Does Apple’s commission structure force higher prices, or do developers simply use it as cover for their own pricing decisions?
Broader implications
This case could set a precedent that reaches far beyond music streaming. Think about news subscriptions, gaming, dating apps – basically any subscription service on the App Store. If courts determine Apple’s platform control directly leads to consumer harm through higher prices, the company might need to completely rethink its monetization strategy. And we’re already seeing regulatory pressure forcing changes – Apple now allows direct subscriptions and lets apps inform users about web signup options in Europe. The gatekeeper role is weakening, and that’s worrying for Apple’s Services revenue stream.
Europe’s regulatory battleground
Europe has become Apple’s most challenging regulatory environment, and this French lawsuit reported by Le Monde is just the latest salvo. What makes this particularly dangerous for Apple is the coordinated approach across multiple European countries. It’s not just one market complaining – it’s a systemic challenge to their entire business model. And with France testing its new representative action system, similar to U.S. class actions, we could see more of these consumer-led challenges. The financial payouts themselves are manageable for Apple, but the precedent? That’s what keeps executives up at night.
