Four states have recently joined the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple, bringing the total number of co-plaintiffs to 20. The states that joined the lawsuit are Nevada, Washington, Indianapolis, and Massachusetts. The initial lawsuit, which was filed in March, included 15 states and the District of Columbia as co-plaintiffs. The Biden administration is accusing Apple of illegally maintaining a monopoly in the smartphone market, which would be a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
According to the DOJ, Apple undermines apps, products, and services that could potentially make users less reliant on the iPhone. The company also allegedly uses its monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, small businesses, and merchants. This lawsuit is part of a larger effort by the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission to address alleged illegal monopolization by Big Tech companies.
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed in 1890 due to concerns about the growing power of businesses in industries like railroads. It has since led to significant fines for numerous companies. Section 2 of the act, which is cited in the complaint against Apple, states that anyone who monopolizes or attempts to monopolize any part of trade or commerce shall be deemed guilty of a felony.
Apple has responded to the lawsuit by stating that it would hinder their ability to create innovative technology and set a dangerous precedent for government intervention in designing people’s technology. The company argues that it faces fierce competition from established rivals and does not have the market power necessary to establish a monopoly.
Apple’s attorney has filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that it goes beyond the limits of antitrust law. However, the DOJ has accused Apple of misstating the law and argues that their conduct is unlawful under antitrust principles.
In addition to this lawsuit, app developers have also brought their own antitrust case against Apple. However, both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court have recently rejected the case.
Overall, this antitrust lawsuit against Apple is part of a larger effort to address concerns about the power and influence of Big Tech companies. The outcome of this case could have significant impacts not only on Apple but also on the tech industry as a whole.
