California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of 20 attorneys general, has successfully blocked Apple’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit alleging anticompetitive practices related to iPhone smartphones. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, accuses Apple of intentionally making it difficult for non-Apple apps and products to work with the iPhone. This behavior is claimed to result in higher prices for consumers and hinder competition within the smartphone industry.
“Apple is dominating the market because it has created a monopoly that insulates itself from competitors and makes it hard for consumers to leave — not because it is competing on the merits. These actions are anticompetitive and illegal,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I am proud of my office’s work with state and federal partners to hold Big Tech accountable for their harm to consumers and to promote vital innovation and competition.”
Antitrust enforcement plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy economy by ensuring competitive marketplaces that offer fair prices, diverse product choices, quality goods, services, and continuous innovation. As part of this commitment, the California Department of Justice has launched its new Antitrust Complaint Form for reporting potentially unlawful anticompetitive conduct.
A copy of the opinion is available online.
