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The Supreme Court ruled Monday 5 to 4 against Apple in a case involving its electronic marketplace, the App Store, allowing iPhone users to continue their action against the company.
IPhone users argued that Apple's 30% commission on sales via the App Store had been transferred to consumers, which was an unfair use of monopoly power.
Apple argued that only application developers, not users, should be able to bring such a lawsuit. But the Supreme Court, in an opinion written by Judge Brett Kavanaugh, rejected this assertion.
"Apple's line drawing does not make much sense, other than as a way to gerrymander Apple from that and similar lawsuits," wrote Kavanaugh.
Apple's shares, already affected by commercial concerns, have lost more than 5%, lagging behind the wider market.
The result was widely expected after the November debates, during which the judges seemed skeptical of Apple's arguments.
The case has divided the two candidates of President Donald Trump to the High Court. In an opinion shared by his conservative colleagues, Judges John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, Judge Neil Gorsuch wrote that the majority had created an "artificial rule".
The legal battle around the company's online market has been going on for almost ten years. Hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties could be suspended.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It's breaking news. Come back for updates.
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