A group of key app developers, which include Epic Games, Spotify, Deezer, Match Group, Proton, and others, known as the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), has supported the Department of Justice's (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit against Apple.
Epic Games, Spotify, Other CAF Members Support DOJ's Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple
The CAF released a statement on Thursday applauding the DOJ's move, citing concerns over Apple's dominance in the mobile app ecosystem.
Rick VanMeter, the executive director of the CAF, emphasized the DOJ's action as a significant step against Apple's control over the app market, which the coalition believes stifles competition and adversely affects both consumers and developers.
"The DOJ complaint details Apple's long history of illegal conduct - abusing their App Store guidelines and developer agreements to increase prices, extract exorbitant fees, degrade user experiences, and choke off competition," VanMeter said in the statement.
"The DOJ joins regulators around the world, who have recognized the many harms of Apple's abusive behavior and are working to address it. As this case unfolds in the coming years more must be done now to end the anticompetitive practices of all mobile app gatekeepers," he added.
Several members of the CAF, notably Epic Games and Spotify, have been engaged in legal battles with Apple over its business practices.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has been particularly critical of Apple's 30% commission on in-app payments, which has long been a source of disagreement between app developers and the tech giant. App developers think the 30% cut of in-app payments is monopolistic and predatory.
Spotify has become more contentious toward Apple after the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aimed to foster competition within the EU, came into effect. Spotify criticized Apple's compliance plans, which involved additional developer fees, labeling them inadequate.
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Response of Apple
However, Apple perceives the CAF as adversarial. In a press briefing about the DOJ's lawsuit, Apple portrayed the coalition as part of a corporate network attempting to undermine the company for their own interests.
Apple defended its position, asserting that the lawsuit threatens its core principles and innovation, and vowed to contest it.
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