United Kingdom, Oct. 24 -- Apple faces a potential £1.5 billion payout after losing a landmark UK legal case that found the company had abused its dominant position through "excessive and unfair" App Store pricing.

The ruling by the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) comes after a collective legal action brought on behalf of around 36 million iPhone and iPad users by academic Dr Rachael Kent, who argued Apple's standard 30 per cent commission on paid apps and in-app purchases led to inflated prices for UK consumers and businesses.

Dr Kent hailed the decision as "a landmark victory, not only for App Store users, but for anyone who has ever felt powerless against a global tech giant," adding that it "sends a clear message: no company...