A federal judge should toss out an antitrust lawsuit accusing Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market because it “bears no relation to reality,” the iPhone giant said Thursday in a court filing. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have joined the lawsuit, according to a new report.
Apple Apple fights smartphone monopoly lawsuit with push to get it tossed out
In a court filing, Apple responded to allegations of monopolistic practices by denying the claims and asserting that it is not obligated to provide software developers with more access to iPhones than they already have, Bloomberg reported. The company maintained that while it has established the terms for access to its platform and technologies, it has not interfered with or restricted third parties from engaging with its smartphone competitors. Apple argued these actions cannot be challenged under U.S. antitrust law.
“Apple faces robust competition from other smartphone manufacturers around the world, including Google and Samsung,” Apple’s lawyers stated in federal court in Newark, New Jersey.
The company also contended that the complaint fails to demonstrate harm to consumers, a crucial element in antitrust cases. “It is implausible to claim, as the government does, that Apple has deterred any customers from switching to Google or Samsung because of its policies with respect to ‘super apps,’ cloud gaming, smartwatches, or anything else,” Apple’s filing argued.
Justice Department: Apple hinders innovation
This response comes after the Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Apple in March. The suit alleges that Apple has blocked rivals from accessing hardware and software features on its popular devices. The government claims that Apple used its control over app distribution on the iPhone to hinder innovations that would have made it easier for consumers to switch phones. Specific allegations include Apple’s refusal to support cross-platform messaging apps, limitations on third-party digital wallets and non-Apple smartwatches, and blocking of mobile cloud streaming services.
The case, US v Apple (24-cv-04055), is in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. U.S. District Judge Julien Neals, appointed by President Biden, is expected to hold a hearing on Apple’s request to dismiss the case later this year.
It’s worth noting that filings seeking to dismiss a lawsuit are common in antitrust cases. But, as Bloomberg pointed out, they rarely succeed in cases brought by the government.
