Apple will have to face a US Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit that accuses the company of unlawfully maintaining dominance in the country’s smartphone market, a federal judge ruled on Monday.
The ruling, reported by Reuters, denies Apple’s motion to dismiss the case. The DOJ — backed by multiple US states and Washington, DC — alleges Apple used restrictive policies to stifle competition and discourage users from switching to rival devices.
The lawsuit claims that Apple imposes limitations and fees on app developers and creates technical barriers that restrict the use of third-party smartwatches, messaging apps, and digital wallets that could rival Apple’s own services. These practices, the DOJ says, effectively lock users into the Apple ecosystem and harm broader competition.
Apple has maintained that its policies are intended to protect user experience and security. A spokesperson for Apple said the lawsuit is “wrong on the facts and the law,” and added that Apple will continue to fight the case vigorously in court.
This lawsuit is part of a wider push by US authorities to address alleged monopolistic practices by major tech firms. Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet are also facing separate antitrust actions over concerns about competitive practices and market control.
