The lawsuit seeks to upend a major part of Apple’s business.

The US Department of Justice and 16 state and district attorneys general accused Apple of operating an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market in a new antitrust lawsuit. The DOJ and states are accusing Apple of driving up prices for consumers and developers at the expense of making users more reliant on its iPhones.

  • NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.worldEnglish
    242·
    6 months ago

    We all know that these accusations are true.

    So much so that I need to ask: is it really illegal to do all these things?

    • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      6 months ago

      No, these are not illegal activities until you add “as a monopoly”. Antitrust laws are fine with all sorts of behavior as part of competition but not when you dominate a market and it keeps new competitors out

      Everything here will hinge on whether Apple is a monopoly in the markets of concern. I’m sure there are legal definitions and precedents for that.

    • horsey@lemm.eeEnglish
      58·
      6 months ago

      I’ve wondered that in the past when people say Apple has a monopoly - there seems to be choice in the market. One can function fine with an Android phone. But people have said “they have a monopoly on iPhones” which doesn’t make much sense to me. Of course they do, but that’s not the same as a monopoly on mobile phones. Also having a monopoly isn’t illegal, only abusing it is. It’s not legal to have a successful proprietary product?

      • NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.worldEnglish
        52·
        6 months ago

        I’ve wondered that in the past

        Well, now you have your answers here in all detail, but it seems you didn’t read them.

        • horsey@lemm.eeEnglish
          3·
          6 months ago

          I didn’t say I was wondering now. I said I was wondering in the past. In any event, i expect to find out from the court case, not online comments from people who probably lack expertise in antitrust law and are not attorneys.

        • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          6 months ago

          I also wonder the same, and wish you’d point to those answers, but I think that’s what this whole thing is : a day in court to establish those answers