> As long as Apple requires they make use of those services for me to install software on the computer I bought, and they prevent others from producing equivalent competing devices via patents (i.e. government granted monopolies), zero.
Right, that's the thing. And zero should also be their revenue and their asset value as long as they continue along that path. The fines should continue to escalate, and should also be applied to individual executives and board members, until they become high enough that the behavior actually changes.
$2 billion is a good start. Apple's revenue in 2024 was about $390 billion. Fines in excess of that amount should be considered.
That's a big enough number that the likely result is Apple would pull out of the UK altogether.
Does it matter? Apple paid around 300 million pounds of corporation tax in 2024. If the UK poses a landmark penalty of say 50 or 100 billion pounds, thats 167x or 333x the annual corporation tax paid by Apple in the UK.
What on earth makes you think that Apple would pay if they leave the UK?
I'm assuming if they pulled out they wouldn't pay.
Then good riddance.
That would be an amazing opportunity for competitors who chose to continue operating in the UK.
That's not what would happen. People will just import the iPhones from abroad.