17 JUN 2025 · In the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Apple, the Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to press its case with several recent developments, although the last few days have not seen significant new events.
As of the latest updates, the lawsuit, filed on March 21, 2024, by the DOJ and initially joined by sixteen state and district attorneys general, has seen additional states join the fray. On June 11, 2024, the attorneys general of Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington added their support to the civil antitrust lawsuit, bringing the total number of participating states to twenty[2][5].
The lawsuit alleges that Apple has violated federal antitrust law by maintaining a monopoly in the smartphone market through various restrictive practices. These include hindering the use of multi-functionality apps, labeling non-Apple devices with "green bubbles" in iMessage, restricting game selections on cloud streaming platforms, limiting access to the NFC API for third-party banking apps, and encumbering the use of Apple Watches with non-Apple devices[3].
Attorney General Merrick Garland has been at the forefront of this case, emphasizing the need to protect competition and innovation in the tech industry. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter has also been a key figure, drawing parallels between this case and the historic *United States v. Microsoft Corp.* lawsuit[3].
On the Apple side, the company has vigorously defended its practices, arguing that the lawsuit threatens the principles that make its products unique and could set a dangerous precedent for government intervention in technology design. Apple filed a motion to dismiss the case on August 1, 2024, but there has been no recent update on the status of this motion[3][5].
In terms of recent developments, there have been no major wins or losses for either side in the past few days. The case is currently overseen by Judge Julien Neals after Judge Michael E. Farbiarz recused himself on April 10, 2024[3].
The ramifications of this case are significant for the tech industry, as it could lead to changes in how companies manage their ecosystems and interact with third-party developers. If the DOJ prevails, it could force Apple to open up its platforms and APIs, potentially increasing competition and innovation. Conversely, if Apple succeeds, it could reinforce the company's current business model and set a precedent for other tech giants to maintain similar levels of control over their ecosystems.
As the case continues, industry observers are closely watching the developments, aware that the outcome will have broad implications for consumer choice, technological innovation, and the balance of power in the tech industry.