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The CAT ruled that Apple had abused its dominant position from October 2015 until the end of 2020 by shutting out competition in the app distribution market and by “charging excessive and unfair prices” as commission to developers.

Apple – which has faced mounting pressure from regulators in the U.S. and Europe over the fees it charges developers – said it would appeal against the ruling, which it said “takes a flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy”.

The case had been valued at around 1.5 billion pounds ($2 billion) by those who brought it. A hearing next month will decide how damages are calculated and Apple’s application for permission to appeal.

LANDMARK MASS LAWSUIT

Rachael Kent, the British academic who brought the case, argued Apple had made “exorbitant profits” by excluding all competition for the distribution of apps and in-app purchases.

Her lawyers argued at the start of the trial in January that Apple’s “100% monopoly position” allowed it to impose restrictive terms and excessive commissions on app developers, which Apple denied.

The CAT said in its ruling that developers were overcharged by the difference between a 17.5% commission for app purchases and the commission Apple charged, which Kent’s lawyers said was usually 30%. The CAT also ruled that app developers passed on 50% of the overcharge to consumers.

“This ruling overlooks how the App Store helps developers succeed and gives consumers a safe, trusted place to discover apps and securely make payments,” an Apple spokesperson said.

BOOST FOR UK’S ‘CLASS ACTION’ REGIME

The case was the first mass lawsuit against a tech giant to come to trial under Britain’s fledgling class action-style regime, which this year reached its 10th anniversary and has seen several multi-billion-pound cases certified for trial but with limited success for consumers so far.

Fellow tech giants including Amazon and Microsoft are also facing sizeable claims at the CAT.

Kent said in a statement that the ruling shows Britain’s collective action regime is working and “sends a clear message: no company, however wealthy or powerful, is above the law”.

($1 = 0.7451 pounds)

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Calvin Klein Inc. today announces the U.S. launch of Re-Calvin, a new take-back program designed to make it easy for customers to responsibly part with their pre-loved items.

Developed in partnership with Trove, the leader in branded resale and customer trade-in, and Debrand, a comprehensive sortation and circular logistics partner, Re-Calvin is a free service from Calvin Klein that gives U.S. customers a simple, accessible way to extend the useful life of clothing, shoes and accessories from any brand through donation, recycling, downcycling or, when necessary, responsible disposal that is converted from waste to energy. Re-Calvin also accepts intimates such as bras, swimwear and underwear – a category often excluded from circularity programs.

“As Calvin Klein continues its sustainability journey, we are proud to introduce a program that makes circularity more accessible for our customers and delivers alternative uses for pre-loved items,” said David Savman, Global Brand President, Calvin Klein. “It was important that we partner with experts with a proven ability to build and scale programs that handle a wide range of products andcategories, making it easier than ever for customers to responsibly extend the life of their items.”

How It Works

Customers in the United States can visit calvinklein.us/re-calvin to print a free shipping label and send in items from any brand. Once received, each package is processed and routed according to Calvin Klein’s diligent, established standards:

• Reuse: Items in good condition are donated or sent to secondhand distribution partners.

• Recycle / Downcycle: Items that cannot be reused, including intimates, are recycled into new fibers whenever possible, or downcycled into materials such as insulation or padding.

• Responsible Disposal: As a final step, if no reuse, recycling or downcycling option is available, items are to be converted from waste to energy or alternative fuel conversion.

Only items suitable for a new owner are directed to reuse. Garments with significant wear, damage, heavy stains and all intimates are directed to end-of-use streams, including recycling, downcycling and responsible disposal. Customers receive an email update after their parcel is processed, detailing how their items were routed, ensuring transparency throughout the process.

Powered by Trove’s Takeback Plug-In

Re-Calvin is powered by Trove’s new Takeback Plug-In, which enables Calvin Klein to seamlessly manage item intake, routing and transparency at scale. The plug-in integrates directly into Calvin Klein’s existing U.S. website, enabling the brand to operate a multi-brand takeback program that includes complex categories such as intimates.

The Takeback Plug-in expands Trove’s suite of circular solutions, which also includes the Resale Plug-in, Trade-in Plug-in and a range of API integration options. Together, these tools give brands the flexibility to build customized circular programs that meet their unique needs.

“Re-Calvin marks the first implementation of Trove’s new Takeback Plug-In,” said Terry Boyle, CEO of Trove. “With this launch, Calvin Klein is showing how technology can make responsible choices simple for every customer, accepting items from any brand and across all categories, including intimates, to help keep more textiles in circulation.”

By accepting items from any brand and across all categories, Re-Calvin reflects Calvin Klein, Trove and Debrand’s shared belief that every item should have as many chances as possible to find a second life.