The DOJ could file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple as soon as tomorrow
Some of these issues were addressed in the EU with the passage of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) which requires Apple in the 27 EU countries to allow the use of third-party in-app payment platforms, requires Apple to allow third-party financial firms to work with the iPhone’s mobile-payment system, and opens up the iPhone to non-WebKit-powered mobile browsers. Last month, Bloomberg reported that Apple met with officials from the DOJ in an effort to convince the agency not to file an antitrust lawsuit. If Bloomberg is correct about what is coming on Thursday, Apple failed.
Developers can now put a single link in their app directing customers to third-party payment processing platforms. However, Apple is still collecting a cut of 12% to 27% on these purchases, 3 percentage points less than the 15%-30% cut Apple takes for transactions going through its own in-app payment processing platform.
Epic is complaining about the fee Apple still charges even when third-party payment platforms are used. The game developer is also not happy about the one link limit that the tech giant allows and says that the iPhone maker should be held in contempt of court. Microsoft, Meta, X, and Match say that Apple is preventing apps from including “even the most basic information” about third-party payment platforms. Apple claims that it has been in compliance with the judge’s order since January.
Apple’s shares have been on the rebound lately rising from $170 to nearly $179 in line with a strong tech sector. However, once the Bloomberg report came out, the shares got hit in after-hours trading declining to $176.40.
