The DOJ’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple: What it Means For Customers

For years now, the feud between iPhone and Android users has persisted. Many customers, especially those who consider themselves tech-savvy, are adamantly on whichever side they stand on, citing key differences between the competitors. Arguments for or against each brand have varied from favoring Apple’s simple user interface (UI) to slamming Apple for its lack of compatibility with other non-Apple devices.

On March 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Apple of violating antitrust laws with a lawsuit. However, this isn’t the first time they’ve done so. In fact, this is actually the third time they’ve sued Apple for this exact reason in the past four years. So, what makes it different this time? According to antitrust experts, the DOJ has made an even stronger case than expected, giving them an even stronger lawsuit compared to past efforts.

The DOJ's Case Against Apple

In the DOJ’s case against Apple, Apple makes up 65-70 percent of smartphones, giving it dominance over the marketplace. In the lawsuit, the DOJ breaks down not just the harm Apple’s monopoly has to developers, but also customers, specifically by highlighting its pattern of behavior that further embeds users into the Apple ecosystem and makes it hard for users to switch.

One of the biggest complaints customers have been making about Apple is its lack of compatibility with other non-Apple devices. For example, if an Android user texts an iPhone user an image, it will look grainy because Apple lowers the quality of cross-platform texts. Apple, however, argues that this case will set a precedent over the government’s involvement in consumer technology designs.

What Does This Mean for iPhone Users?

woman holding an iphone and a credit card

Currently, Apple takes up to 30% of app revenue from third-party developers, which in turn leads many developers to charge their customers more in order to maintain the viability of their business. So, for developers, this case may just force Apple to lower the cost of app subscriptions, add more payment options, and give app developers more freedom on the App Store.

But overall, this case will be a lengthy legal battle that will probably take years to conclude, which is why many experts agree it will likely result in some kind of settlement. But because of how much more merit this lawsuit has compared to past ones, experts still expect Apple to change at least some of its practices.

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