Apple Officially Responds to DOJ's Antitrust Lawsuit, Defends iPhone Ecosystem Design Choices

More than a year after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, the tech giant has formally issued a comprehensive rebuttal. According to The Information, Apple's long-awaited response arrives 16 months into the legal battle, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to have the case dismissed.

In its filing, Apple claims the government's lawsuit poses a fundamental threat to innovation, competition, and consumer freedom. "This lawsuit threatens the very principles that set iPhone apart in a fiercely competitive market," Apple states in its legal response. Per the information included in the filing, the company argues that the DOJ's theories would reduce consumer choice and “set a dangerous precedent," potentially giving the government unchecked influence over product design in the tech industry.

The lawsuit, brought by the DOJ and supported by over a dozen U.S. states, alleges that Apple has maintained a monopoly through restrictive practices in its App Store policies, hardware ecosystem, and digital services. The suit zeroes in on five core design decisions by Apple, which it frames as anti-competitive.