The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) will file a sweeping antitrust case against Apple as soon as Thursday, March 21. The massive case will see the DOJ sue Apple over anticompetitive allegations that artificially limit the competition from fairly competing against the company’s ecosystem, according to a new Bloomberg report.
The DOJ has reportedly been investigating Apple since 2019 but instead opted to file a similar antitrust case against Google. With that trial now over, the DOJ is now ready to take Apple on, with the case being prepared to be filed in a federal court. Bloomberg earlier reported that the DOJ was going to file its Apple antitrust case sometime in March, and it seems that the federal department will indeed follow on with its plans as we approach the last week of the month.
The impending legal action would likely have significant ramifications for Apple that are likely to supersede what the Cupertino company is currently undergoing in other regions like Europe. Apple was recently fined $2 billion in the European Union in an antitrust case that concluded that the company was illegally blocking music streaming services like Spotify from fairly competing with Apple Music. It remains to be seen whether the DOJ’s case would result in similar fines, but the outcome of the impending trial could force Apple to adopt similar policies to those being implanted due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the US.
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Apple has long asserted that its practices are not anticompetitive and contends that they benefit various stakeholders by contributing to the overall growth of everyone involved. The company highlights the seamless user experience offered by its iPhone ecosystem as a key distinguishing factor. Apple maintains that the user experience remains the top priority with any changes it makes to its platforms, even if it comes at the expense of developers’ demands.
As previously reported, authorities interviewed executives across sectors affected by Apple’s purported walled garden. Tile, a Bluetooth tracker rivaling AirTag, highlighted possible restrictions in accessing location services. Beeper, an iMessage app compatible with multiple platforms, provided insights into the company’s restrictions on broader messaging compatibility.
Apple reportedly stepped up lobbying efforts with the White House and held numerous meetings with DOJ representatives in hopes of delaying or limiting the scope of its antitrust case. While the case might not be delayed, it remains to be seen what specific areas of Apple’s platforms the antitrust case will come after.
Furthermore, representatives from banks and payment apps discussed constraints on utilizing the tap-to-pay NFC function on iPhone, offering a more comprehensive perspective on potential anticompetitive practices within Apple’s ecosystem. Over in Europe, Apple has allowed banks and financial institutions to develop Apple Pay competitors by allowing them to access the iPhone’s NFC chip.
The DOJ was said to be closely watching how Apple complies with the DMA. The company has introduced massive changes to the iPhone’s app ecosystem with the iOS 17.4 update including alternative app marketplaces and more.
