Stimulus Posted March 23 Posted March 23 (edited) US sues Apple for illegal monopoly over smartphones The Verge / Lauren Feiner / Mar 21, 2024 Quote The US Department of Justice accused Apple of operating an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market in an expansive new antitrust lawsuit that seeks to upend many of the ways Apple locks down iPhones. The DOJ, along with 16 state and district attorneys general, accuses Apple of driving up prices for consumers and developers at the expense of making users more reliant on its phones. The parties allege that Apple "selectively" imposes contractual restrictions on developers and withholds critical ways of accessing the phone as a way to prevent competition from arising, according to the release. "Apple exercises its monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others,” the DOJ wrote. The government points to several different ways that Apple has allegedly illegally maintained its monopoly: Disrupting "super apps" that encompass many different programs and could degrade "iOS stickiness" by making it easier for iPhone users to switch to competing devices Blocking cloud-streaming apps for things like video games that would lower the need for more expensive hardware Suppressing the quality of messaging between the iPhone and competing platforms like Android Limiting the functionality of third-party smartwatches with its iPhones and making it harder for Apple Watch users to switch from the iPhone due to compatibility issues Blocking third-party developers from creating competing digital wallets with tap-to-pay functionality for the iPhone "For years, Apple responded to competitive threats by imposing a series of 'Whac-A-Mole' contractual rules and restrictions that have allowed Apple to extract higher prices from consumers, impose higher fees on developers and creators, and to throttle competitive alternatives from rival technologies,” DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Jonathan Kanter said in a statement. The case is being filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. Attorneys general from New Jersey, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia joined the DOJ in the complaint. The enforcers are asking the court to stop Apple from "using its control of app distribution to undermine cross-platform technologies such as super apps and cloud streaming apps,” prevent it from "using private APIs to undermine crossplatform technologies like messaging, smartwatches, and digital wallets,” and keep it from "using the terms and conditions of its contracts with developers, accessory makers, consumers, or others to obtain, maintain, extend, or entrench a monopoly.” They also ask the court for any other relief needed to restore competition. On a background call with reporters, DOJ officials would not address if they would seek to break up Apple if it wins at the liability stage. They said any relief would need to be tied to what the court ultimately finds Apple to be liable for. Surprised this wasn't posted yet Edited March 23 by Stimulus 3
Kayseri Mantisi Posted March 23 Posted March 23 5 minutes ago, Stimulus said: Surprised this wasn't posted yet Android users aren't as obsessed (they just mind their business unless someone randomly attacks) and things get posted here only if it's against an Apple competitor 3 3 3
Mean Trees Posted March 23 Posted March 23 This is 2000 and late. At this point, Apple is too big to fail. All that will happen is a fine. Let's talk about changing the prices and it's shady supply chain.
EtherealCat Posted March 23 Posted March 23 its not apples fault that android isnt a desirable alternative 4 6
ATRL Moderator Bloo Posted March 23 ATRL Moderator Posted March 23 This case is actually pretty terrible. For instance, the suit alleges that Apple's CarPlay is anticompetitive for some reason? (Even though most cars that have CarPlay will also have their own infotainment system separate from CarPlay and will even commonly support Google's Android Auto.) Moreover, the comparison to the Microsoft case is very lacking and simply doesn't fit. We'll see what happens, of course. I think the focus on saying "customers feel trapped into iPhones" is very baseless. The only aspect of the Apple ecosystem that feels entrapping is the fact that any digital media you buy in the Apple Ecosystem stays in the Apple Ecosystem. But, this is true if you buy digital content in Microsoft's stores, Amazon's stores, etc. The idea of ownership and how ownership transfers from digital system to digital system needs better refinement to protect consumers. But, launching a case against Apple over green bubbles is clownery. There are legitimate concerns and issues in tech to talk about, even regarding Apple, but this case reads like the DOJ's research is from the r/technology subreddit. 1 2
Jotham Posted March 23 Posted March 23 30 minutes ago, TROPICUM said: the jealousy from android users just went too far… Android users could not care less about the Apple vs Android debate.
Domination Posted March 23 Posted March 23 Apple was dumb ass hell for thinking they could get away with some of this. They're app store policies are absolutely anti-competitive and they could have been sued for that alone.
TROPICUM Posted March 23 Posted March 23 20 minutes ago, Jotham said: Android users could not care less about the Apple vs Android debate. they're the first ones to get a migraine when told about apple's latest releases but sure 1 1
Starshine Posted March 23 Posted March 23 Slow growth stock, Nvidia creeping up on them, cancelled car project, reliance on Google's Gemini for AI, terrible iPhone sales in China. It's kinda turribul for them atm.
shoganai Posted March 23 Posted March 23 They realised Apple's a monopoly almost 20 years later? Hilarious. Political move.
meangreen11 Posted March 23 Posted March 23 34 minutes ago, Jotham said: Android users could not care less about the Apple vs Android debate. A large part of the complaint is that Android users feel "excluded from group chats" because they don't have blue chat bubbles lol. They definitely care. However, being removed from group chats because iPhone users don't want their group messages in green bubbles has nothing to do with Apple and is purely up to the ones doing the "excluding". That's not Apple's fault. Actually several of the complaints are a complete stretch to call a monopoly. It's not Apple's fault they created a desirable product and ecosystem that people don't want to leave. The CarPlay complaints are absolutely stupid as well. The case reeks of outdated government officials not understanding how technology works. 1
dawnettakins Posted March 23 Posted March 23 A bit late and not really the best case they could use against Apple, but I'll take it I guess. Anything to further pressure Apple's terrible policies and ecosystem practices.
Dula Peep Posted March 23 Posted March 23 I get the limiting app store stuff but the Apple eco system stuff is kinda baseless... they have the right to make their products work with eachother better than other products, no? 1
torturedpoet Posted March 23 Posted March 23 (edited) 2 hours ago, Stimulus said: Blocking third-party developers from creating competing digital wallets with tap-to-pay functionality for the iPhone I don't want every single bank/payment service I use to have its own wallet 2 hours ago, Stimulus said: Disrupting "super apps" that encompass many different programs and could degrade "iOS stickiness" by making it easier for iPhone users to switch to competing devices These apps are a monopoly in waiting tho so you're basically fighting fire with fire. Look at Grab and the way it has whole countries in a chokehold. Some points they made are valid tho but Apple has a very powerfull competitor in Android so this is not a monopoly as much as it's hostile business practices. It's not Apples fault people don't want to use Android once they get into the Apple ecosystem. Edited March 23 by torturedpoet 1 1
What_A_Mess Posted March 23 Posted March 23 (edited) I guess the US Department of Justice are Android Users? Lmao Its not Apple's fault that iPhones are the best smartphones out there. There's no way I'm going back to Android after switching to Iphones Edited March 23 by What_A_Mess 1
Gaia Posted March 24 Posted March 24 16 hours ago, Jotham said: Android users could not care less about the Apple vs Android debate. An android user went on a 2 hour rant recently at work about how all apple users are just image conscious "keeping up with the joneses" people who don't actually care about quality And everyone else was like “…cool story bro" and he just kept going and wouldn't shut up. Some android users very much do care
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