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Apple Offers to Settle DOJ iPhone Monopoly Case
Apple has made multiple offers to settle the DOJ’s smartphone monopoly lawsuit, but the talks are not guaranteed to produce an agreement.
Image: 9to5Mac
Apple and the US Department of Justice are discussing a possible settlement to the antitrust lawsuit accusing the company of operating a “smartphone monopoly,” according to a Bloomberg report.
The DOJ filed the case in 2024, and Apple has repeatedly opposed the allegations. Bloomberg reports that Apple has made multiple offers to the Justice Department this year in an effort to resolve the lawsuit.
“Apple has made multiple offers this year to the Justice Department to bring the case to a close.”
The talks are active, but they could end without an agreement. The lawsuit centers on five parts of the iPhone ecosystem:
- Super apps
- Cloud-streaming games
- Third-party messaging apps
- Third-party smartwatches
- Third-party digital wallets
Apple has made several changes over the past year that address some of the DOJ’s concerns. Those include adding RCS support to Messages, launching a Mini Apps Partner Program in the App Store, and expanding access to the iPhone’s NFC chip. It remains unclear whether those moves will satisfy the department.
DOJ settlement push under Trump
Politics may also influence the negotiations. Bloomberg reports that the Justice Department under Trump has pursued settlements in numerous antitrust cases filed by the previous administration. Stanley Woodward, the No. 3 Justice Department official overseeing the agency’s antitrust work, has supported settlements as a way to reduce taxpayer costs and provide consumers with faster relief than litigation that can last for years.
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Apple and the DOJ recently filed a joint status report updating the case. Apple also won a discovery dispute earlier this week over access to federal agency documents.
A settlement would remove a major legal burden for John Ternus, who is set to become Apple CEO in September.
Enterprise Editor
Marcus follows the money. He covers enterprise software, cloud architecture, and the tectonic shifts in Big Tech strategy. He translates dense earnings calls and complex M&A activity into actionable insights about where the industry is actually heading. If a tech giant makes a silent pivot, Marcus is usually the first to notice.
via 9to5Mac
