A German federal court indicated that Apple could face additional antitrust regulations in Germany, as judges deliberate whether the tech giant should be subject to stricter competition controls.
During a three-hour court session on Tuesday, Federal Court of Justice presiding judge Wolfgang Kirchhoff suggested that Apple's market influence may warrant enhanced oversight under Germany's Competition Act.
The case stems from an April 2023 decision by Germany's antitrust regulator, the Bundeskartellamt, which designated Apple as having "paramount significance for competition across markets." This designation subjects companies to additional checks preventing anti-competitive practices.
Apple challenged this designation in court, seeking to operate without the extra regulatory burden. The company's legal team requested the matter be discussed with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, arguing potential discrepancies between EU and German law. However, Judge Kirchhoff dismissed this request.
If Apple's challenge fails, the company will join other tech giants like Google's parent Alphabet and Meta under heightened German antitrust scrutiny until April 2028. The regulations aim to promote market competition and restrict potentially anti-competitive behaviors.
The case highlights Germany's broader efforts to regulate big tech companies, running parallel to the Bundeskartellamt's separate investigation into Apple's App Tracking Transparency rules launched in June 2022.
While the court has not issued a final ruling, requiring more time for deliberation, the judge's comments suggest Apple may ultimately face stronger oversight in the German market, where it controls key digital platforms including iOS and the App Store.
This German case adds to mounting regulatory pressure on Apple across Europe, where recent EU legislation has already forced changes to the company's App Store policies and payment systems.