'Unauthorized' iPhone App Store Also Joins Apple's Antitrust Lawsuit

Cydia "Apple Engages in Anti-Competitive Practices Through App Store Monopoly"
Apple "Only Official App Store Allowed Due to Security Issues... Unrelated to Abuse of Monopoly Power"
Spotify and Other IT Companies Unite to Organize Response Against Apple App Store Monopoly Practices

Apple, the manufacturer of the iPhone, logo [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Suhwan and Naju Seok] The so-called 'jailbreak' app store 'Cydia,' which is not the official iPhone App Store, has joined the ranks of antitrust lawsuits against Apple. Currently, installing and using apps on all Apple devices, including the iPhone, is only possible through the official App Store. However, unauthorized apps accessible through the illegal modification process called 'jailbreaking' have entered the lawsuit. Legal battles over Apple's alleged abuse of its dominant market position in the application (app) distribution market are expected to intensify.

On the 10th (local time), according to foreign media such as The Washington Post (WP), Cydia filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. In the complaint, Cydia stated, "Apple illegally obstructed competitors' businesses in the app distribution market by using its App Store," and "deprived consumers of the choice of app stores."

Cydia views Apple's prohibition of jailbreaking and allowance of only its own App Store as anti-competitive behavior. Cydia claimed, "Apple is abusing its dominant market position to profit at the expense of competitors," and "as a competitor, we are also facing bankruptcy."

Apple counters that it recognizes the App Store as the sole app distribution channel for security reasons and denies any anti-competitive behavior. Foreign media quoted Apple officials saying, "Jailbroken iPhones effectively disable iOS security features and expose users to the risk of accessing unauthorized illegal software," and "only apps approved through the official App Store can be installed."

The software industry has continuously criticized Apple's monopolistic position in the App Store. In March last year, the world's largest music streaming company Spotify filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, arguing that "Apple's imposition of a 30% payment fee on all revenue generated by apps registered in its App Store is unfair."

In August, Epic Games, a U.S. game company famous for the game 'Fortnite,' also filed a lawsuit claiming that Apple's App Store payment fees are excessive. Subsequently, in September, Spotify, Match Group?the parent company of the world's largest dating app 'Tinder'?and four other IT companies formed a nonprofit organization called the "Coalition for App Fairness" to collectively respond to anti-competitive practices by platform operators such as Apple and Google.

The U.S. economic media MarketWatch reported, "Antitrust lawsuits against Apple's App Store will continue," and "the ongoing antitrust investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice will significantly impact the future of Apple's App Store."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.