Apple likely to face US Justice Department antitrust lawsuit

Apple is likely to face a Justice Department antitrust lawsuit soon, with a new report indicating that the department's two-year-old investigation of the company has recently accelerated.

The Department of Justice reportedly ramped up its Apple probe over the summer of 2021, with DOJ lawyers questioning Apple, as well as its customers and competitors, The Information reported on Monday.

That "flurry of activity" has included a new round of subpoenas that were sent to Apple business partners over the summer, sources said.

At least one source noted that the investigation is very likely to lead to an antitrust lawsuit, though the specifics of the complaint are still up in the air. Additionally, the DOJ has assigned more staff to the probe as department lawyers uncover what they believe are "serious issues."

The Justice Department first launched an investigation into Apple's business practices in 2019, when federal regulators ramped up their scrutiny of Big Tech.

Antitrust investigations of the type targeting Apple can take years to complete. After an investigatory period, DOJ lawyers will submit a recommendation to sue. The Apple case has yet to reach that point, and the timing could also be affected by the pending Senate confirmation of incoming DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter.

The department's investigation is also said to be undeterred by the recent decision in the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit. Apple largely fended off Epic Games' complaints, and the judge presiding over the case ruled that Apple was not in violation of federal antitrust regulations.

In addition to the investigation in the U.S., Apple is also facing an antitrust probe in Europe after Spotify levied a complaint concerning Apple Music

19 Comments

rob53 13 Years · 3312 comments

About 3 years ago

They didn't question me and I've been a customer since 1989. I know this is a different branch of the DOJ than the ones looking into the larger topic but it would be nice if they didn't waste their time on going after Apple while there are much more important things to investigate. I'm also wondering if the current DOJ needs to be investigated to make sure everyone is actually following the law and doesn't have any interests in Apple competitors.

applesauce007 17 Years · 1703 comments

rob53 said:

They didn't question me and I've been a customer since 1989. I know this is a different branch of the DOJ than the ones looking into the larger topic but it would be nice if they didn't waste their time on going after Apple while there are much more important things to investigate. I'm also wondering if the current DOJ needs to be investigated to make sure everyone is actually following the law and doesn't have any interests in Apple competitors.

Well put. Especially when Apple was recently found not to be a monopoly.
The DOJ would lose an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, just like Epic will lose again.
The DOJ should not waste taxpayer money to support sore loser corporations.

fastasleep 14 Years · 6451 comments

rob53 said:

They didn't question me and I've been a customer since 1989. I know this is a different branch of the DOJ than the ones looking into the larger topic but it would be nice if they didn't waste their time on going after Apple while there are much more important things to investigate. I'm also wondering if the current DOJ needs to be investigated to make sure everyone is actually following the law and doesn't have any interests in Apple competitors.

Imagine thinking that as a customer you have something to offer an investigation like this. Also you seem to have missed that this started under the previous administration, and that the DOJ is capable of doing more than one thing at a time.

applesauce007 said:

rob53 said:

They didn't question me and I've been a customer since 1989. I know this is a different branch of the DOJ than the ones looking into the larger topic but it would be nice if they didn't waste their time on going after Apple while there are much more important things to investigate. I'm also wondering if the current DOJ needs to be investigated to make sure everyone is actually following the law and doesn't have any interests in Apple competitors.

Well put. Especially when Apple was recently found not to be a monopoly.
The DOJ would lose an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, just like Epic will lose again.
The DOJ should not waste taxpayer money to support sore loser corporations.

Where does one get an armchair law degree these days?

glennh 9 Years · 74 comments

fastasleep said:

applesauce007 said:

rob53 said:

They didn't question me and I've been a customer since 1989. I know this is a different branch of the DOJ than the ones looking into the larger topic but it would be nice if they didn't waste their time on going after Apple while there are much more important things to investigate. I'm also wondering if the current DOJ needs to be investigated to make sure everyone is actually following the law and doesn't have any interests in Apple competitors.

Well put. Especially when Apple was recently found not to be a monopoly.
The DOJ would lose an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, just like Epic will lose again.
The DOJ should not waste taxpayer money to support sore loser corporations.

Where does one get an armchair law degree these days?

Not everyone in here are tech geeks or nerds. You don’t have to be ‘Perry Mason’ to figure out the rules and opinions rendered in the Epic case. As the judge hinted and stated in plain words being successful does not by itself make you a monopoly just because consumers choose and prefer Apple products and its business model over the competition!