A Dutch basis has hit Apple with a lawsuit over the App Store’s developer charges, looking for €5.5 billion euro in damages for what it alleges is monopolistic habits. In a , the Dutch Consumer Competition Claims Foundation said it was submitting a “collective claim” for damages, on behalf of any iPhone or iPad homeowners within the EU who’ve downloaded a paid app or made purchases inside an app.

Suing Apple for its app retailer insurance policies on behalf of shoppers— as an alternative of builders — would possibly seem to be an uncommon transfer on the Dutch basis’s half. Most of the scrutiny over the tech big’s so-called “Apple tax” has targeted on its deleterious impression on the . Just this previous January, Apple agreed to settle a by US builders for $100 million.

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation alleges that Apple’s developer charges had been handed on to shoppers, within the type of increased costs. “App developers are forced to pass on to consumers the increased costs caused by Apple’s monopolistic practices and unfair terms,” wrote the muse in its press launch.

The basis is asking EU shoppers who bought an app in Apple’s App Store or made an in-app buy since September 2009 to its grievance. The lawsuit is ready to be filed within the Amsterdam District Court.

This isn’t the primary time Apple is taking warmth from Dutch authorities. Apple has but to adjust to a January order from Dutch regulators that requires the corporate to supply for courting app clients. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is fining Apple €5 million for each week it doesn’t observe via with the order. Dutch regulators have already fined Apple greater than €50 million and counting. 

But in response to TechCrunch, there’s of a possible compromise. Apple is engaged on an amended proposal of its courting app coverage, which will likely be reviewed by ACM. But even when the 2 events attain a consensus, Apple will quickly have a lot bigger battles to battle within the EU. The EU is engaged on finalizing the Digital Markets Act, which is able to (amongst quite a few different anti-competitive measures) require corporations like Apple and Google to permit for in-app funds.