As reported first by The Verge, an antitrust lawsuit might be filed against Apple as several lawyers from the Department of Justice are now in plans to draft the case. These lawyers expect this case to be filed by the end of the year.
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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 29: Stock numbers for Apple are displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, January 29, 2019 in New York City. Apple is set to report first-quarter earnings results after U.S. markets close on Tuesday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
This news came from an insider that has direct knowledge regarding this issue based on a report from Politico. Apple did not give a comment regarding this matter.
Since 2019, the DOJ has been keeping an eye on the company as several allegations have been accusing them, such as abusing the market power through their own applications, the App Store, and Apple Pay.
Politico explained in their report that no final decisions were made as lawyers who planned this lawsuit are still in the early stages of drafting. Adding to this is that there is also a possibility for this case not to push through.
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Antitrust Lawsuit for Different Tech Companies
If this continues to the court, this will be the first case investigating one of the tech giants two years after the individual antitrust lawsuits have been filed against Google.
Google defended an antitrust case last 2020 as the company was allegedly accused of monopolizing the search and display advertisement agencies. To avoid these charges, they offered concessions and made it into a separate company. Despite all of these arrangements, the negotiations were still unclear to the people.
As this case will be tough to defend the company, Apple has all of the resources to defend itself as the company's market cap ranges to $2.73 trillion.
Last year, Apple went to trial against Epic Games, which started in August 2020. This started when the iPhone maker was not allowed to use their own payment platform, as the only option given was to purchase through the App Store.
"It's a cross-appeal as Epic is appealing the dismissal of its federal antitrust claims under the Sherman Act, while Apple is appealing the consolation prize Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers handed Epic in the form of an anti-anti-steering injunction under California state law," the appeal stated.
Yet Apple Argues with the opposition that the presented accusations 'failed to prove' and 'failed to show' facts of the case.
An appeal was scheduled this 21st of October for both companies to make their own arguments orally alongside with the DOJ and 35 state attorneys.
As per 9To5MAc, this appeal looks like the end of the case for the two companies, as the US court system will now make way for different cases.
Related Article: Apple Won Stay Against Epic Games, App Store to Have Leeway Until Dec. 9; 'Fortnite' Not Yet Back?
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Written by Inno Flores
