Class Lawyers In App Store Deal Seek Up To $30 Million In Fees

In a court filing on August 26, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, an interim lead class counsel for the software developers who are the plaintiffs, announced that a $30 million fee award squared with the attorney compensation in similar class action settlements. Freed Kanner London & Millen, Saveri & Saveri, and Sperling & Slater are the firms on the plaintiffs’ executive committee. 

In 2019, small app developers sued Apple alleging anti-competitive practices. This included the 30% commission the tech giant takes on the sale of apps and restrictions on direct communication between developers and their customers. 

As part of the deal, the tech giant will create a $100 million small developer fund from which class members will be able to seek compensation. The remaining funds will be donated to Girls Who Code, a non-profit organisation that promotes gender equality in computer science. 

Apple will also extend for three years a 15% commission adopted last year to support small developers who make $1 million or less per year. The tech giant has said it will now allow developers to communicate directly with their customers regarding alternative payment options.