The United States Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Apple upon claims that the tech giant has been cultivating a monopoly in the smartphone industry.
With these claims developing alongside 15 states and the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice deems Apple to have used anti-competitive practices to maintain control over the market.
This antitrust lawsuit claims that Apple has breached Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits individuals from monopolizing or attempting to monopolize any aspect of the trade or commerce sector, constituting a felony offense.
The tech giant’s moves to negate third-party application functionality and alienate cross-platform messaging and servicing apps have proven to be an ongoing issue that does not seem to be slowing down. The effect of the Apple “monopoly” is seen in changing web browsing, location servicing, and news subscriptions.
According to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, “Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly. The Justice Department will vigorously enforce antitrust laws that protect consumers from higher prices and fewer choices.”
The future of innovation in the tech industry is inherently at risk with one company reigning supreme over the consumer base. Apple’s share of everyday consumer use has grown with the development of in-house applications like iMessage and Apple Pay. The convenience of these applications entices Apple users to subscribe but, intrinsically causes users to become dependent on Apple products due to their reliance on these applications. Outside digital banking apps and text messaging apps that are finding ways to connect multi-platform users innovatively, consequently, are at risk of stagnancy due to these practices.
Apple’s administration proclaims that the lawsuit is a dangerous step in the direction of allowing the government to have more say in technology. The company claims that its mission is to “create more opportunities not just for our business, but for artists, creators, entrepreneurs and every ‘crazy one’ with a big idea.”
This statement has been put to the test with the lawsuit against the tech giant. As this is not the first accusation of monopolization, Apple is currently working toward preserving its brand values.
