Apple critics unite to challenge App Store fees

Two hugely popular mobile apps are joining forces to take on Apple in a battle over its App Store purchases.

The music streaming service Spotify and “Fortnite” creator Epic Games are banding together with several smaller developers in what they call the Coalition for App Fairness.

In a tweet, the Coalition said it will fight “to end Apple’s monopoly and level the playing field.”

Epic said in a tweet Thursday, “Developer freedoms are under attack. We are joining @AppFairness to defend and reclaim the fundamental rights of all creators.”

The new alliance stands against Apple’s dominance in the mobile-app market: a market that all but belongs to the Cupertino company.

Some developers complain Apple charges a commission of in-app payments. Apple’s cut can range from 15 to 30 percent. Other developers complain about having to comply with Apple’s rules to appear in the App Store, the only way Apple users can find and download apps.

Epic Games has sued Apple over antitrust claims in a U.S. federal court, while Spotify has launched an antitrust complaint against the iPad maker in the EU.