Proton, the privacy-focused company behind Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and other apps, has filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging anticompetitive practices linked to its App Store. In the complaint, Proton argues that Apple maintains an unfair monopoly across smartphone devices, app distribution systems, and payment solutions processed through the App Store. The suit specifically labels Apple’s charges to app developers as “artificial and arbitrary,” comparing them to internet commerce tariffs.
Filed in the Northern District of California, Proton’s legal action seeks significant changes to Apple’s App Store policies along with monetary damages. In a statement, Proton indicated that any monetary award gained from the suit would be distributed to organizations advocating for democracy and human rights worldwide.
This latest legal challenge by Proton aligns with similar claims brought forward by other tech firms, including a class-action lawsuit involving a group of Korean developers who have previously taken issue with Apple’s market dominance. At the heart of these cases lies the broader debate around Apple’s control of the mobile app market, a conversation previously spotlighted by the high-profile battle between Epic Games and Apple. Though Epic Games ultimately lost on the monopoly issue, the ruling required Apple to permit U.S. app developers to direct users toward alternative payment methods outside Apple’s ecosystem, a decision Apple still contests in court.
Proton’s suit, however, approaches Apple’s practices from a novel direction. Referencing evidence from the Epic trial, Proton questions the legitimacy of Apple’s App Store fees by pointing to the significant profits Apple generates, suggesting the fees far surpass what’s necessary for the store’s maintenance.
Another key grievance raised by Proton centers on Apple’s restrictive payment policies. Proton claims these rules prevent app developers from openly communicating pricing advantages accessible through their own websites, while punishing apps that neglect to utilize Apple’s in-app payment process with potential removal from the platform. Proton also describes issues with payment and subscription management created by these policies, including user experience frustrations caused by a lack of flexibility in subscription adjustments between web-based and in-app purchases.
Additionally, Proton highlights specific limitations imposed by Apple that affect the functionality of its own products. It cites, for instance, restrictions preventing Proton Calendar from being selected as the default calendar app on iOS devices, even though Apple permits users to replace default options for various other app types like browsers, emails, messaging, and phone calls. Similarly, Proton Drive allegedly faces more stringent limits around background functionality compared to Apple’s native iCloud service.
Proton’s suit further explores the implications of Apple’s exclusive control over app distribution via the App Store, asserting that this system inadvertently aids authoritarian regimes in suppressing freedom of expression. As developed in their complaint, Proton specifically points to situations where Apple was required by governments in countries such as Russia and China to remove certain apps, leading developers—including Proton itself—to risk app removal if they didn’t comply fully with international censorship requirements. One cited example involves Proton VPN, an app threatened with removal because it allowed users to access content otherwise censored by certain governments.
“Apple’s monopoly control of software distribution on iOS devices presents a myriad of problems for consumers, businesses, and society as a whole,” Proton stated. “Anti-monopoly laws exist because the power gifted by monopoly status inevitably leads to abuse. In the case of oligarchic tech giants, these abuses have wide implications for society, and it’s vital to the future of the internet that they be addressed now.”
Apple has not immediately responded to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
