Althouse: "The Justice Department and 16 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on Thursday...."

March 21, 2024

"The Justice Department and 16 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on Thursday...."

"The government argued that Apple violated antitrust laws by preventing other companies from offering applications that compete with Apple products like its digital wallets, which could diminish the value of the iPhone. Apple’s policies hurt consumers and smaller companies that compete with some of Apple’s services.... 'Each step in Apple’s course of conduct built and reinforced the moat around its smartphone monopoly,' the government said in the lawsuit."

The NYT reports.

25 comments:

RideSpaceMountain said...: Yeah Apple! Don't be evil! Oops...wrong company.; 3/21/24, 10:47 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Tim Cook should have bought a big newspaper like Jeff Bezos did.; 3/21/24, 10:50 AM
Rich said...: I feel like I pay a fair price for one of the most important devices in my life. I feel like I'm paying a fair price for the cloud storage Apple offers me. My iPhone integrates with my MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Apple Watch, Airpods Pro with spatial audio. Apple's integrated ecosystem and focus on privacy is why I use Apple in the first place. The slick integration and less worry about hackers is a genuine value add and worth the premium price. I don't want a 3rd party app store that invites a race to the bottom of ad-based, privacy invasive apps.

I don't understand why Biden is attacking something the majority of Americans value. Biden just can't stop making these unforced errors.; 3/21/24, 10:52 AM
Maynard said...: I don't understand why Biden is attacking something the majority of Americans value. Biden just can't stop making these unforced errors.

You cannot be that dumb or that naive, Rich. (Well, on second thought ...)

The suit against Apple is like the government going against Microsoft when Bill Gates initially refused to play the DC lobbyist game.

News Flash: Apple just announced the hire of Hunter Biden as legal counsel.; 3/21/24, 11:06 AM
Drago said...: LLR-democratical Rich takes time out from mendacious serial bashing of all Musk enterprises to white knight for Apple!

Rich: "Apple's integrated ecosystem and focus on privacy is why I use Apple in the first place."

LOL

Apple is sneaky in its own proprietary ways:

https://gizmodo.com/apple-iphone-ipad-privacy-problems-data-gathering-1849855092

However, since Apple goes along with democratical/deep state team efforts, they garner lots of lefty support.; 3/21/24, 11:15 AM
Original Mike said...: "Apple’s policies hurt consumers"

They've already got choices. They can buy the other the other guys. Leave those of us who value integration alone.; 3/21/24, 11:21 AM
MayBee said...: The Feds don't like it that Apple won't give them a back door into the cloud; 3/21/24, 12:04 PM
tim maguire said...: Why can't Apple make a phone that only uses Apple apps? How does anti-trust law apply?

My Honda only runs on Honda parts, I can't go to Ford for an exhaust pipe. My Bic pen only uses Bic ink cartridges. Nobody complains about that.; 3/21/24, 12:06 PM
Rich said...: @ Comrade Drago: My policy is to never feed the trolls — but in this instance I’ll make an exception.

You can get the same integration by competitors (Samsung Galaxy family of devices, Google Pixel), but it isn’t done as well. And that’s why this is a weird case to bring. Just looking at devices, Apple does what others do — it just does it better.

I expected an App Store practices DOJ lawsuit, which has more merit, but to call the iPhone ecosystem a monopoly is comical. The lock-in isn’t caused by monopolistic practices, but rather a delightful user experience. I gladly pay a premium for this tight control of the ecosystem. If I wanted cheap junk and widespread security breaches I'd get a different product.

*Sent from my iPhone; 3/21/24, 12:19 PM
cassandra lite said...: Big gov doesn't that Apple values users' privacy more than Google does.; 3/21/24, 12:35 PM
Jim Gust said...: Just when I thought the Biden administration couldn't get more stupid or mendacious, they bring this absurd, bizarre, totally unfounded lawsuit.

Next thing you know, the Senate majority leader will be interfering with the election of a US ally, with Biden's explicit approval. Oh, wait . . .; 3/21/24, 12:54 PM
Josephbleau said...: I wonder if Apple will have to pay a $0.5 billion fine. That would finance almost 1 hour of government spending!; 3/21/24, 1:19 PM
Howard said...: I've never boughten a Apple product.; 3/21/24, 2:11 PM
The Vault Dweller said...: Reminds me of the 90's when Washington first started trying Anti-Trust stuff with Microsoft. I believe it was over Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer with Windows, which frustrated it's chief competitor, Netscape Navigator. Now almost no one uses either. I've heard that the Microsoft Anti-Trust situation in the 90's was when Silicon Valley first started operating with a large concern of what was going on in D.C. I'm much more concerned about decoupling D.C. from influencing tech than I am over regulating the amount of control Apple has over what can and can't get onto it's App store.; 3/21/24, 2:12 PM
The Vault Dweller said...: Reminds me of the 90's when Washington first started trying Anti-Trust stuff with Microsoft. I believe it was over Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer with Windows, which frustrated it's chief competitor, Netscape Navigator. Now almost no one uses either. I've heard that the Microsoft Anti-Trust situation in the 90's was when Silicon Valley first started operating with a large concern of what was going on in D.C. I'm much more concerned about decoupling D.C. from influencing tech than I am over regulating the amount of control Apple has over what can and can't get onto it's App store.; 3/21/24, 2:12 PM
Maynard said...: Uh Rich,

I am surprised that I have to tell you this, but YOU (not Drago) are the troll here.

Jeesh. How dense can a person be? Well, if it is a bot ... or a DNC operative.; 3/21/24, 2:28 PM
WK said...: It comes down to DEI issues. Apple is not integrated. It is segregated. Only the apps they allow. The Apple App Store has built a wall to keep out those applications they view as undesirable. The government lawsuit will tear down the wall and allow a free flow of apps from around the globe that will enhance the Apple user experience in ways they cannot even imagine. Appli-cultural enrichment. Tough if that is not what you desire. Government knows best. Rubes.; 3/21/24, 3:06 PM
Rabel said...: Interesting mix of states joining in.; 3/21/24, 3:19 PM
Rabel said...: A "sue and settle" agreement could pull an awful lot of money from Apple's deep pockets to hand out to progressive groups.; 3/21/24, 3:23 PM
Rabel said...: Gluttons for punishment can watch the whole presentation of lies on top of lies here. (Short ad in front)

What's an antonym for "fiery"??; 3/21/24, 3:31 PM
Drago said...: LRR-democratical Rich: "@ Comrade Drago: My policy is to never feed the trolls..."

You are "starving" yourself, rhetorically speaking?

Sad!; 3/21/24, 6:58 PM
Drago said...: Lead LLR-democratical Brigade Troll Rich: "The lock-in isn’t caused by monopolistic practices, but rather a delightful user experience."

LOL

Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market
March 24, 2024

"WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high."

https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3

Adios Richie! Or, given your obliviousness, should I call you Howard...or gadfly?; 3/21/24, 7:04 PM
God of the Sea People said...: China has to get their malware on our phones somehow. If Congress bans TikTok, China will just have to resort to other unvetted, low quality apps rammed through by the DOJ.; 3/21/24, 7:48 PM
Robert Cook said...: "Why can't Apple make a phone that only uses Apple apps? How does anti-trust law apply?"

Most of the apps iPhone users have on their phones are not "Apple apps," but are created and sold by independent developers. They are available to purchase on Apple's app store. It goes without saying that Apple prefers and has the right to require that apps must meet their standards and specifications to be accepted into their App store. Physical stores choose what products they will stock and sell. Not every product is available for sale by every vendor.

One can find on Apple's App store many apps similar to each other which perform the same or similar tasks, (e.g., voice-recording, calculators, banking apps, shopping list apps, etc., etc., ad infinitum), offered by independent developers competing with each other for purchasers. (Apple does pre-install a number of its own apps, but that is the typically bare bones of the library of apps most iPhone users accrue on their iPhones over time.) Many of these apps on iPhones by independent developers are also available on smart phones by other manufacturers.

I find the idea that Apple is somehow strangling competition and is in violation of anti-trust laws baffling. Or does it have to do with Apple's mandatory cut of the sales of each app that is sold on their platform? Well, the developers are free to not offer their wares for iPhone, and users are free to use other smartphones. However, given the presumably higher purchase and usage of iPhones, the developers who offer successful apps on Apple's platform will certainly make more than they will on non-Apple platforms. That is, uh...competition.; 3/21/24, 8:04 PM
MadTownGuy said...: I soured on Apple products for two reasons:

Back in the day when Macs were coming in the scene and giving IBM(!) and Microsoft competition, their software was usually more costly than similar software on other platforms.

Then I had an iPhone for work, which functioned well enough, until one day I asked it for directions to the Machine Shed in Pewaukee. I was headed down the interstate to meet up with the rest of the family who had been in Milwaukee, but I couldn't remember which exit to take and I didn't want to be late. So I asked Siri where the nearest Machine Shed was. Siri replied that it was on East State Street in Rockford, Illinois. Drove farther east; asked Siri again. Same answer. Finally caught view of the restaurant sign and made the exit. From the parking lot, once more I asked Siri for the nearest Machine Shed restaurant. Same answer.

I know from experience that Android GPS is occasionally dodgy, and gives circuitous routing, but it's never sent me to the wrong place.; 3/21/24, 8:32 PM