US antitrust lawsuit: Apple warns against court-enforced iPhone redesign
Apple sees itself as neither a monopolist nor a distortion of competition. Antitrust action brought by the Justice Department threatens state influence on tech.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch)
Apple has rejected all allegations of competition from the US government: The US Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit consists of “unsubstantiated allegations” and is a “frontal attack on Apple's entire business model,” the company complained in its response to the accusations.
The lawsuit sets a “dangerous precedent” for government intervention in technology and attempts to force a redesign through the courts, Apple argues in its most recent submission (United States of America v. Apple, United States District Court For The District Of New Jersey, case number 2:24-cv-04055). Apple is neither a monopolist nor is competition unlawfully impeded by product decisions.
Dispute over “performance smartphone market”
The US Department of Justice sued Apple last year, alleging that the company had established an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market –, specifically in the “performance smartphone market” –. Apple has now described this market definition as a fantasy construct, a distinction between smartphones and performance smartphones does not correspond to “economic reality,” and Apple is operating in an “ultra-competitive market.”
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Apple has completely rejected the examples of anti-competitive behavior cited by the Ministry of Justice. The company is not suppressing so-called “super apps” that bundle many functions, nor is Apple preventing cross-platform messaging.
Apple fights against interference in its business model
Apple also rejects other accusations regarding cloud gaming and the linking of the NFC interface to Apple Pay. The company has already implemented changes in these areas, but only under pressure from regulators, including in the EU.
The Digital Markets Act has already forced Apple to open up extensively. In the USA, too, Apple must now allow apps to refer to their purchase options – and is no longer allowed to charge a commission for this. Here and there, the company continues to fight persistently against these legal or judicial requirements.
(lbe)
