A lawsuit filed by a British consumer protection organization claims that Apple violated antitrust laws by effectively «forcing» 40 million customers to use its iCloud cloud service.
It is noted that Apple has provided iCloud with preferential treatment with overpriced fees, making it difficult to use alternative providers.
«We believe that Apple owes customers nearly £3 billion ($3.75 billion) because it imposes its iCloud services on customers and cuts off competition from other services», — the message organization.
Apple does not allow users to back up their data through third-party storage providers. Currently, owners of the company’s devices receive 5 GB of iCloud storage for free (and this amount has not changed since 2011), while the rest will have to be paid for: 50 GB, for example, will cost $0.99 per month.
With a similar lawsuit filed by Apple faced in the United States by the Department of Justice. In August, the company asked a federal judge to dismiss the case and called the iPhone «one of the most innovative and consumer-friendly products ever created».
«Our users do not need to use iCloud, and many rely on a wide range of third-party alternatives for data storage», Apple said in a statement. «We reject any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anticompetitive and will otherwise vigorously defend ourselves against any legal claims».
Source: The Verge