Millions of Apple users could be in line for compensation worth up to £77 each after consumer group Which? secured a key legal victory in its £3 billion battle against the tech giant. The Competition Appeal Tribunal granted Which? a Collective Proceedings Order (CPO), allowing the claim to proceed on an opt-out basis.
Which? Alleges Apple Abused Dominant Position
Which? alleges that Apple abused its dominant position by giving preferential treatment to iCloud and making it harder for users to switch to rival cloud storage providers. The organisation claims the practices 'trapped' consumers within Apple's ecosystem, reduced competition and enabled the company to charge higher subscription fees than would otherwise have been possible.
If the claim ultimately succeeds, affected consumers could receive payouts of up to £77 each, according to Which?.
Who Is Eligible for Compensation?
Under the action, anyone who used iCloud between November 8, 2018 and June 8, 2026 and was living in the UK on June 8 this year will automatically be included unless they actively choose to opt out. Those who were living overseas on that date but used iCloud during the period can opt in to the claim.
Which? will represent up to 39.7 million UK iCloud users in the landmark claim.
Which? CEO: 'No Company Can Get Away With Abusing Its Position'
Anabel Hoult, chief executive of Which?, said: 'Which? wants to make clear that no company, no matter how powerful, can get away with abusing its position.'
'The granting of the CPO means we're one step closer to getting consumers the redress we believe they are owed from Apple and this should send a strong message to any other companies using anti-competitive tactics.'
'We now urge everyone who thinks they may be affected to visit www.cloudclaim.co.uk to find out more about the claim and sign up for updates.'
Apple Rejects Allegations
The legal action, originally filed in November 2024, seeks around £3 billion in damages on behalf of consumers. Apple has strongly rejected the allegations. In a statement issued previously, it said: 'These claims are unfounded. We work hard to make iCloud a great experience, but no customer is required to use it and customers in the UK have plenty of alternatives to choose from.'
The case is one of the largest consumer claims ever brought in the UK and will now proceed through the Competition Appeal Tribunal unless a settlement is reached beforehand. There is no guarantee of compensation, with any payout dependent on Which? ultimately succeeding in its claim against Apple.
