Oliver Haslam·

The US DOJ Has Sued Apple Over Antitrust Claims

Apple is still reeling from the European Union’s launch of the Digital Markets Act and the changes that are required, but there’s no rest for the company nor its lawyers.

Apple has now been sued by the US Department of Justice over claims that it illegally uses its position in the smartphone market.

The 88-page suit claims that Apple’s monopoly allows it “to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants.” It was filed United States District Court for the District of New Jersey today and claims that Apple uses unfair tactics to ensure that it can restrict innovation and protect its own position in the market.

Earlier this month Apple was forced by the EU to allow third-party app stores onto the iPhone while third-party payment systems have also been required by the DMA. Apple continues to try to implement those requirements without giving up too much control, something that keeps landing it in hot water. Now, it’s facing the potential for a similar battle on home soil, too.

It isn’t yet clear how this might pan out, but Apple isn’t taking it lying down. In a statement to The Verge, spokesperson Fred Sainz said that “this lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets.”

The statement went on, warning that “if successful, it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple—where hardware, software, and services intersect. It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology. We believe this lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend against it.”

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