Apple, U.S. officials discuss settlement in antitrust case

Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice are reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions to settle a 2024 lawsuit accusing the iPhone maker of violating antitrust laws. The news, citing sources familiar with the matter, suggests a potential resolution to the government's crackdown on Big Tech.

The lawsuit, filed by the DOJ and 15 states, alleges that Apple monopolized the smartphone market. It claims the company hurt smaller rivals and drove up prices by making it difficult for consumers to use competing products. The suit specifically cited instances where Apple allegedly suppressed technologies that could have increased competition in areas like super apps, cloud gaming, messaging, smartwatches, and digital wallets.

It remains unclear if state attorneys general involved in the original suit are participating in these settlement talks. Shares of Apple have seen a modest decline following the report, though they remain up significantly for the year. This news comes just days after Apple itself filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and former employees, alleging trade secret theft related to consumer hardware, highlighting ongoing tensions between the tech giants.