LONDON, April 12 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) on Friday

lost a bid to throw out a mass lawsuit valued at just under $1

billion brought in London on behalf of more than 1,500 app

developers over its App Store fees.

The case, worth up to 785 million pounds ($979 million) and

one of several faced by the tech giant in the United Kingdom,

alleges Apple ( AAPL ) charged third-party developers unfair commissions

of up to 30% on purchases of apps or other content.

Apple's ( AAPL ) lawyers argued developers cannot have a claim in the

UK unless they were charged on purchases made through the UK App

Store. But the company's bid to throw out that part of the case

was rejected by the Competition Appeal Tribunal on Friday.