A U.S. judge has allowed the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple to move forward, rejecting the company’s request to dismiss the case.
The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in Newark, New Jersey, who said the case could proceed. The lawsuit accuses Apple of limiting access for third-party apps and devices to prevent users from switching to competing smartphones, giving it an unfair advantage in the U.S. market.
The Justice Department filed the case in March 2024 along with several states and Washington, D.C. It focuses on Apple’s practices involving app store restrictions, fees for developers, and technical blocks on competing products like smartwatches, wallets, and messaging tools.
Apple said the lawsuit is incorrect on both the facts and the law and plans to keep fighting it in court.
Apple argued that its rules are reasonable and protect users, adding that forcing the company to share technology would slow innovation.
Sales of Apple’s iPhones reached $201 billion in 2024. In February, the company released a new low-cost iPhone with updated features priced $170 higher than the earlier model.
The case adds to a growing list of antitrust lawsuits filed against major tech firms in recent years. Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet are also facing lawsuits from U.S. enforcers accusing them of illegally maintaining monopolies.
