Apple and DOJ Hold Early Settlement Talks in iPhone Antitrust Case

[MacRumors]

Apple is working to settle an antitrust lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice, reports Bloomberg. Apple has proposed several offers and is now in early settlement talks with the DOJ.

The DOJ sued Apple for antitrust violations in 2024 as part of an expansive antitrust investigation into major tech companies. The government accused Apple of getting customers "hooked" on its platform through a long-running history of anti-competitive behavior.

The lawsuit accused Apple of restricting "super apps" with broad capabilities, limiting cloud gaming, preferencing its own Messages app over third-party apps, and limiting the function of third-party digital wallets and smartwatches.

Since the lawsuit was filed in 2024, Apple policy changes have addressed many of the claims, weakening the DOJ's position.

While the talks are ongoing, Bloomberg says there's no guarantee an agreement will be reached. Apple attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed last year, but was unsuccessful. So far, no trial has been scheduled.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple and DOJ Hold Early Settlement Talks in iPhone Antitrust Case

 

[HMI]

If the policies and practices were “anti-competitive” and limiting to customers, wouldn’t it, therefore, be less “hooking” than they claim?

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple is working to settle an antitrust lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice, reports Bloomberg. Apple has proposed several offers...

Somebody's getting one of these...

 

[Valen1]

With all of the monopolies the DOJ has approved this is how they are spending there time? No one forces you into the Apple ecosystem unlike monopolies for Internet, media outlets, utilities, etc.

 

[M4irmidnight]

Somebody's getting one of these...

View attachment 2646115

Lindsey Graham??

 

[turbineseaplane]

This topic should quite clearly be in the political area

 

[Pezimak]

This topic should quite clearly be in the political area

If it wasn't it is now, under Political news. I do like how the DOJ filing a lawsuit against Apple forcing them to change policy is twisted as, Apple changing policies weakening the DOJ's position...

 

[turbineseaplane]

If it wasn't it is now, under Political news.

Got moved, thankfully.

 

[Pezimak]

Got moved, thankfully.

I edited my reply with a comment on the story too. But yes if it isn't in the Political section stay WELL AWAY from discussing ANYTHING relating to politics, as they don't like it on here and will suspend you.

 

[I7guy]

Some of what the DOJ claims is something every manufacturer of every product wants to do and is doing.

 

[AlanMarron]

Some of what the DOJ claims is something every manufacturer of every product wants to do and is doing.

I’ll take it one step further—every government has monopoly power over its territory and many seek to expand “market share” by hook or by crook.

 

[gummybear2026]

I'm not surprised by this news. The US is a capitalist country.

 

[CapitalIdea]

With all of the monopolies the DOJ has approved this is how they are spending there time? No one forces you into the Apple ecosystem unlike monopolies for Internet, media outlets, utilities, etc.

They are upset that Apple won’t set things up for “super apps.” The only one who’s constantly complaining that we don’t have one of those China-style “super apps” is, as expected, Elon Musk. Given that backdrop, is the selective enforcement by this DOJ at all surprising?

 

[mwhite]

Hooked? How about people just like it better?

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

With this administration, Apple doesn't even need to address the claims. Give Trump what he wants and the lawsuit disappears like magic, third-world style. Call it the art of the deal 😄

 

[retroneo]

If the policies and practices were “anti-competitive” and limiting to customers, wouldn’t it, therefore, be less “hooking” than they claim?

A hook goes in easily, but is difficult to remove.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

If the policies and practices were “anti-competitive” and limiting to customers, wouldn’t it, therefore, be less “hooking” than they claim?

“They’re successful even though millions don’t like their products. AND they’re not breaking any laws (certainly nothing even remotely related having 90 or more percent of any market they’re in) so we’ll just threaten to do what the EU did… make up new laws that says the legal way they’re running their company is now illegal. Buuuut as getting anything through congress is a bit of a slog right now, maybe we can get what we want this way?”

 

[MrSnirf]

The EU again trying to punish a US company.. i think Apple needs to pull out of the EU.

 

[StuBeck]

If it wasn't it is now, under Political news. I do like how the DOJ filing a lawsuit against Apple forcing them to change policy is twisted as, Apple changing policies weakening the DOJ's position...

Yeah its pretty ridiculous. Its OK to like a company and say they aren't perfect, but not according to some apparently.

 

[Samplasion]

The EU again trying to punish a US company.. i think Apple needs to pull out of the EU.

The EU's famous U.S. Department of Justice

 

[klrobinson999]

Apple should just have Tim Cook give Trump another gold statue. Considering Trump's pay-for-play model, the lawsuit will be resolved in no time. Make sure to send a case of beer to the cabinet.

 

[maflynn]

The EU again trying to punish a US company.. i think Apple needs to pull out of the EU.

Reread the title. The Department of Justice, that is the United States Department of Justice. SMH

 

[SkyRom]

What I hate about cases like this is they are pitched as solutions to help the consumer, but are often backdoors to more mass surveillance, control, and other goodies the government wants.

Apple could keep its walled garden forever as far as I’m concerned if it protected my privacy and didn’t sell our metadata and trends to other institutions.

If the “settlement” gives us open access to apps, Waze notifications working on Apple Watches (lol), more freedom to choose search engines, and better group texts maybe it’s good. If it turns the iPhone further into Android, destroys VPN’s, and leads to spam / hacks / bugs / warrantless spying bs, it will be terrible.

 

[StuBeck]

What I hate about cases like this is they are pitched as solutions to help the consumer, but are often backdoors to more mass surveillance, control, and other goodies the government wants.

Apple could keep its walled garden forever as far as I’m concerned if it protected my privacy and didn’t sell our metadata and trends to other institutions.

If the “settlement” gives us open access to apps, Waze notifications working on Apple Watches (lol), more freedom to choose search engines, and better group texts maybe it’s good. If it turns the iPhone further into Android, destroys VPN’s, and leads to spam / hacks / bugs / warrantless spying bs, it will be terrible.

There is no way this will destroy VPNs. The case is about opening up systems Apple keeps to their own devices, its not about stopping functionality entirely.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

What I hate about cases like this is they are pitched as solutions to help the consumer, but are often backdoors to more mass surveillance, control, and other goodies the government wants.

Apple could keep its walled garden forever as far as I’m concerned if it protected my privacy and didn’t sell our metadata and trends to other institutions.

If the “settlement” gives us open access to apps, Waze notifications working on Apple Watches (lol), more freedom to choose search engines, and better group texts maybe it’s good. If it turns the iPhone further into Android, destroys VPN’s, and leads to spam / hacks / bugs / warrantless spying bs, it will be terrible.

The DoJ’s case is woefully weak. They even struggle to define a rational market of “market control” (something akin to McDonald’s having 100% of the BigMac market is NOT rational). And, even in their best efforts (flagship smartphones over $1000) the numbers still come out to Apple not controlling the market AND not having done anything to prevent or restrict the creation/existence of competition.

The fact that no company wants to enter the market is evidence of those companies wanting to take the easy way out and simply capitalize on another company’s success. Apple’s not buying smartphone makers and shutting them down. They’re not demanding developers ONLY release solutions for Apple’s devices. They’re not pressuring outlets that carry Apple devices to ONLY carry Apple devices. THESE are the antitrust-worthy concerns that companies prior to Apple engaged in that Apple’s NOT engaging in.