The United States sues Apple for monopolistic practices on the iPhone
Already targeted by numerous procedures around the world, the American government took Apple to court this Thursday, March 21, for anti-competitive and monopolistic practices linked to the iPhone and the constraints set by the Californian group for application developers.
People walk past an Apple store on October 20, 2023 in Denver. © Brittany Peterson/AP
By: RFI with AFP
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Apple was especially criticized in recent years for
forcing third-party companies to go through its application store
and pay high commissions on all transactions. But this action focuses on other aspects of the iPhone ecosystem, according to a document released Thursday by the Justice Department.
“
All the decisions taken by Apple have established and strengthened the defenses protecting its monopoly in the field of smartphones
,” argues the American government, which joined forces with prosecutors from several states to take the matter to federal civil justice in New Jersey. In doing so, Apple harmed “
users, developers, and other parties who helped make iPhone what it is today
,” the subpoena continues.
Obstacles to streaming, digital wallets, messaging…
According to the Department of Justice, the Cupertino (California) group prevented or disrupted the
creation and offering of “
streaming
” services on iPhone
, but also of digital wallets capable of being used on several platforms.
It has also obstructed the development of messaging services that can be used on several media and voluntarily limited the possibilities of using its connected watches with devices other than the iPhone.
“
Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate competition laws
,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (left) announce an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, at the Department of Justice in Washington, March 21, 2024. © Mandel Ngan / AFP
Apple warns of '
dangerous precedent
'
“
This legal action threatens who we are and the principles that distinguish Apple products in a fiercely competitive market
,” the company responded in a statement sent to AFP. If the procedure resulted in a decision binding on Apple, “
it would set a dangerous precedent, allowing the government to weigh heavily in the design of consumer technology
,” the company said.
Apple has been accused for several years of imposing drastic conditions on companies that offer services on the iPhone and of preventing them in particular from creating their own application store to directly monetize their content.
The
European Digital Markets Regulation (DMA), which came into force in mid-March
, requires six of the largest technology companies, including Apple, to open their platforms to competition. In response to this text, Apple said that it would soon allow its users in the European Union to download applications directly via websites, without going through its App Store application store.
In the United States, video game giant
Epic Games took Apple to court in 2020
to challenge the obligation for any application publisher to go through the App Store.
In September 2021, a federal judge in Oakland (California) ruled that the ecosystem was not a monopoly, but ordered Apple to no longer prevent third-party companies from using their own payment system for purchases made. with their apps.
The Apple brand proposed an alternative option authorizing these external purchases, but providing that it would continue to charge a commission of 12 to 27% on each transaction, compared to 30% on the App Store.
On Wednesday, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, for its part, believes it has “
complied with the injunction
” of the court.
Also read: Organizations accuse Apple of violating new European rules on digital markets
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