The United States Department of Justice believes Apple is violating antitrust law. The specific law in question is Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. According to the DOJ, Apple has used this law to maintain its lead in the US by violating it instead of its products alone. In the announcement, the DOJ said Apple has used anticompetitive measures that have directly hurt consumers and developers.
For the DOJ, it’s about choices Apple gives consumers, such as fewer product choices, higher prices, and fees with lower quality smartphone apps and accessories. The DOJ says Apple also lacks innovation.
Apple has also been accused (many times) of having tight restrictions on apps allowed in its App Store, particularly Cloud Streaming Apps. We can all remember the Xbox App debacle from not long ago. The DOJ also believes a long-running argument between consumers that Apple makes it hard for non-Apple devices to chat with its users due to iMessage restrictions. Apple Wallet also comes into question because Apple has blocked third-party integrators from adding payment choices. The DOJ believes consumers, workers, and producers have been hurt and plans to fight the law to its extent.
As consumers, we’ve all heard this before, but does it get anywhere this time?
Via Neowin
