French appeals court confirms exclusive deal between Orange and Apple is dead in the water.
Orange has failed in its bid to overturn the French competition watchdog's earlier ruling that a five-year iPhone exclusivity deal between it and Apple was illegal.An analyst quoted by Reuters reckons Orange, which has threatened to go to France's highest court, €200 million in 2009.
Back in December the French Competition Council ordered a cessation of Orange's iPhone agreement, which it deemed to risk "serious and immediate damage to competition on the mobile market and to consumers".
The ruling followed a complaint by rival operator Bouygues.
Orange owner France Telecom says it will now go to the Cour de Cassation - the highest court in France - for the next stage in its appeal.
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