{
  "id": 1691048,
  "title": "Apple Says Antitrust Issues Are Hurting Services Business",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/apple-says-antitrust-issues-are-hurting-services-business",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T10:50:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2026/apple-says-antitrust-issues-are-hurting-services-business/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple has acknowledged that antitrust issues surrounding its App Store are adversely affecting its services business. This admission was made in the company's recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which was highlighted in a report by the Financial Times (FT) on August 18. The FT notes that this is the first time Apple has directly stated that regulatory challenges are impacting one of its most profitable divisions.\n\nAccording to Apple's disclosure, if third-party developers opt for alternative distribution and payment methods for their apps and digital content, Apple may earn a lower commission or no commission at all. The FT report suggests this admission is a significant indication that ongoing court decisions and regulatory pressures worldwide are starting to erode the $100 billion services unit. Research by Sensor Tower reveals that consumer spending through the App Store in the U.S. dropped by 6% in the latest quarter, after growing by 9% in the same period of 2025. Furthermore, Appfigures data indicates that Apple's U.S. commission revenue has slipped by 18% for the year to date.\n\nWhile Apple's services business reported a record $30.7 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 12% year-over-year, analysts at UBS expressed concerns about the slower-than-expected growth in the App Store. Bank of America's Wamsi Mohan admitted that the record services revenue was \"somewhat weaker\" than anticipated. To comply with new rules in Japan, Brazil, and the European Union, Apple has had to adjust its business model in recent years. These include changes related to alternative app distribution, payment methods, and out-of-app purchases.\n\nIn June, the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposed that both Apple and Google permit developers to direct users to payment methods outside their respective app stores. The CMA's proposal aims to lift the restrictions that currently prevent app developers from guiding users to alternative payment methods. Apple has previously faced legal challenges in the U.S., similar to the case involving Fortnite developer Epic Games. Sensor Tower attributes the U.S. slowdown in App Store revenue to the impact of that legal decision.",
  "summary": "Apple says antitrust battles around its App Store are weighing on its services business. The tech giant acknowledged the issue in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). That filing was flagged in a report Tuesday (Aug. 18) by the Financial Times (FT), which notes that this is the first time […] The post Apple Says Antitrust Issues Are Hurting Services Business…",
  "key_points": [
    "Apple acknowledges antitrust issues hurt services business",
    "Regulatory challenges impact $100B services unit",
    "U.S. App Store revenue down 6% in latest quarter"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}