Apple negotiates settlement with US Justice Department in antitrust lawsuit

Apple and the U.S. Justice Department are in early discussions to settle a 2024 antitrust lawsuit that alleges the iPhone maker monopolized the smartphone market. The suit, filed by the DOJ together with 15 states and the District of Columbia, claims Apple has used its iPhone ecosystem to block competitors in areas such as "super apps," cloud‑streaming games, messaging services, smartwatches and digital wallets.

Apple has made multiple settlement offers, and the talks are ongoing, but neither side has guaranteed an agreement. The Department of Justice, under Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stanley Woodward, is pursuing an extrajudicial resolution to save taxpayer money and deliver quicker consumer relief. A settlement would avoid a trial that could force Apple to alter its iPhone platform and related services. After the report, Apple shares fell about 1.1% in afternoon trading.