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The game Candy Crush downloaded on an iPhone via the App Store. REUTERS / Carlo Allegri

Is the App Store in a monopoly situation? The Supreme Court does not settle this issue, but authorized Monday, May 13, a group of iPhone users to continue its class action against the giant Apple. The Californian group is implicated for the management of its platform of downloads of applications.

Every day millions of people download games and applications on their iPhone, through the App Store, the only store available on their phone. Except that to sell their products, independent developers must put their hands in the pocket: a commission of 30%, inevitably passed on the selling price of the application.

The consumer is wronged because of this monopoly. This is certainly the argument presented by a group of iPhone users who filed a complaint in 2011 against Apple for violation of the rules on competition.

" We are only an intermediary between consumers and developers, " defended the Californian group, " we are not attackable ."

An argument rejected Monday, 5 votes against 4, by the Supreme Court, the highest legal authority in the United States. Rejected by the 4 progressive judges, but also, more surprisingly, by Brett Kavanaugh , one of the judges appointed by Donald Trump. The other judge appointed by the American president has sided with him.

The outcome of this class action is still uncertain. But it could have significant economic consequences for Apple as for other giants of new technologies. The share price of the firm at the apple fell nearly 6% Monday.