Is Apple really ripping off its customers – and can the US government stop them?
The Department of Justice is trying a new approach in tackling the dominance of the iPhone, but should Apple users or shareholders be worried, asks Chris Blackhurst?
Apple did not mince its words. It is facing a lawsuit that “threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets”, the company said. Defeat would set a “dangerous precedent”.
An 88-page filing by the US Department of Justice, along with 16 states and the District of Columbia, accused the near-$3 trillion behemoth of violating antitrust laws with practices designed to keep customers tied to their iPhones and less likely to switch to a competing device.
The tech giant prevented other companies from offering applications that rival Apple products, such as its digital wallet, which could diminish the value of the iPhone; this hurts consumers and rival companies, according to the lawsuit.
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