Privacy-centered software company Proton has filed a case against Apple in an American federal court, in which the technical giant has accused the App Store of using his control. RootsFiled in Okland, California, the proposed class action has been alleged that Apple has an illegal monopoly of how apps are distributed and masked on iPhones. Proton, known for its safe email service proton mail, allegedly stated that the strict rules and high commissions of Apple are equally damaged to developers and consumers.

The Swiss company claimed that Apple forces developers to use their payment system and cuts 30 percent on most transactions. Proton said in a statement posted in an official blog, “We sued Apple to set an important example, which will determine the future of the internet, not independent people, not monopoly, not monopoly.”

The proton is not alone in taking the apple to court. Its case creates a similar case filed by the Korean Publishers Association and other plaintiffs in May. While the case focuses on comprehensive antittest concerns, the purpose of proton suit is to order the court to order apple to allow competitive app stores and alternative payment systems on its iOS platform.

Apple has not yet responded to proton claims, and the company usually defends its app store policies as a way to save users and ensure the quality of the app. However, its practices have conducted a growing investigation from regulators and developers in recent years.

In March, Apple was fined 500 million (about 5,007 crore) by the European Union’s antitrust regulators, in which developers were banned to develop the developers about cheap options outside the app store. Under the pressure of the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has since agreed to loosen some rules, at least in Europe.

Allegedly, Apple now allows the European Union developers to include several links in their apps to direct several links to the external payment platforms. However, Apple still charges 5 percent to 15 percent for such transactions, which uses the size and service of the developer. Developers living with Apple’s in-app procurement system continue to pay up to 20 percent, although small developers pay less than 13 percent.

Despite these changes, critics say that Apple compliance with DMA is only partial. Tim Sweeny, CEO of Epic Games, who sued Apple in 2020, described a change in the app store in the European Union, which is “a joke of a fair competition.” Sweeni accused Apple decorating developers who use third-party payment systems by limiting their app facilities and making user experience worse.

In April this year, an American judge ruled in favor of Epic, finding that Apple violated the 2021 court order, meaning to open the app store in more competition. The judge said that Apple’s urge for taking 27 percent fee for external purchase was more about maintaining profits for safety of users. The case is now referred to to the federal prosecutors to investigate whether Apple’s action is criminal contempt. Apple has said that it will appeal.