A class-action lawsuit filed against Apple on Friday in a Northern California court accuses the company of creating unfair conditions to ensure iCloud remains the dominant cloud storage option for its devices, according to . By imposing “surgical technological restrictions” on the types of files that other cloud providers can host, Apple has ensured that only iCloud can offer users of Apple devices a complete storage service, the complaint argues. According to the complaint, this has also allowed Apple to charge higher fees in the absence of “any real threat to iCloud's dominance.”
The proposed class, represented by Hagens Berman, would cover tens of millions of customers in the US. Bloomberg Law grades. While iPhone and iPad users have the option to store certain types of files with non-Apple cloud storage providers, there are some things, including app data and device settings, that only iCloud has. permission to host. This leaves users to choose between the “unattractive” option of juggling multiple cloud storage accounts to fully cover their backup needs, or the convenience of the full iCloud service. The complaint contends that Apple's restrictions are arbitrary and act to stifle competition.
Apple “does not dominate because it has created a superior cloud storage product,” the complaint states. “From a security and functionality standpoint, iCloud is no better (and often inferior) than other cloud storage platforms. Instead, Apple has managed to dominate the market by manipulating the competitive playing field so that only iCloud can win.” The case has just been filed and has not yet been granted class action status, but anyone who believes they may be eligible to participate can fill out a form at the for more information.
