Judge Rejects Apple’s Request to Dismiss Monopoly Lawsuit

A federal court rejected Apple’s motion to dismiss a Department of Justice (DOJ)  lawsuit accusing the company of monopoly and anticompetitive conduct, according to a June 30 opinion issued by Judge Julien Xavier Neals from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

The DOJ lawsuit, filed on March 21, 2024, with the backing of 16 states, alleged Apple illegally cornered the smartphone market. The complaint alleged a wide range of illegal behavior, including putting restrictions on third-party apps, controlling messages sent by iPhones to other phones on its default messaging service, making the Apple Watch compatible with the iPhone, and controlling digital wallets and news services.

The lawsuit argued that Apple’s actions limit competition, thereby harming consumers, small businesses, and app developers.