Judge allows US government's antitrust case against Apple to proceed
01 Jul 2025

Apple has lost its attempt to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general.

The case, which was filed in March 2024, accuses Apple of using its market dominance to stifle competition and innovation.

The lawsuit comes as a major challenge for the tech giant, potentially disrupting its highly profitable mobile hardware business.

What's in the lawsuit?
Accusations

The lawsuit alleges that Apple has violated antitrust laws by preventing competitors from accessing key hardware and software features on its popular devices.

The government claims that Apple has leveraged its control over app distribution and iPhone features to hinder innovations that could have made it easier for consumers to switch phones.

This tactic, according to the DOJ, was a deliberate attempt by Apple to create an illegal "moat" around the iPhone.

Allegations against Apple were strong enough to continue: Judge Neals
Court decision

US District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in New Jersey ruled that the allegations against Apple were strong enough to continue.

He said, "Allegations of this nature, which indicate that Apple acts in a manner to protect its monopoly power in the smartphone and performance smartphone market, are sufficient."

In response to the ruling, an Apple spokesperson said they believe the lawsuit is wrong on both facts and law.

Apple's arguments against the lawsuit
Legal strategy

Apple's lawyers had argued that the lawsuit failed to show how its alleged monopoly harmed consumers or developers.

They also contended that Apple has a legal right to choose its business partners and is not obligated to boost competitors' fortunes.

However, Judge Neals allowed these claims to proceed, saying they can be resolved through discovery in the pretrial information exchanges.

Other Big Tech companies facing similar lawsuits
Ongoing litigation

The case against Apple is one of several US antitrust lawsuits against Big Tech companies filed during the Biden and Trump administrations.

Meta Platforms and Amazon are also facing similar lawsuits from antitrust enforcers alleging they illegally maintain monopolies.

Alphabet Inc.'s Google has been sued over its search business, with a judge ruling four years later that the company violated the law.