Apple loses at US Supreme Court on iPhone app antitrust suit

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court ruled that consumers can press ahead with a lawsuit that accuses Apple Inc. of using its market dominance to artificially inflate prices at its App Store.

The five-four ruling could add to pressure the company faces to cut the 30% commission it charges on app sales. Lawyers pressing the case have said they will seek hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of overpaying consumers. Apple fell 4.6% to $188.08 at 10:44 in New York.

Apple contended the lawsuit was barred under a 1977 Supreme Court ruling that said only direct purchasers of a product can collect damages for overpricing under federal antitrust law. That decision was designed in part to keep companies from having to pay twice for the same misconduct.