DOJ Seeks to Break Up Apple in Landmark Antitrust Case
The Department of Justice has filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, seeking to force the company to spin off its App Store and open up its tightly controlled iOS ecosystem.
Aditya Raj
July 17, 2026
DOJ files landmark antitrust suit against Apple seeking App Store breakup. 142-page complaint targets 30% commission ($30B/yr), restricted app distribution, and ecosystem lock-in. Apple hires former Solicitor General for defense. Trial expected early 2027.
Apple hired former Obama administration Solicitor General Donald Verrilli to lead its defense. The trial is expected to begin in early 2027 and could fundamentally reshape the mobile ecosystem. If the DOJ prevails, US iPhone users could see third-party app stores, iMessage on Android, and potentially a spun-off App Store."Apple's conduct is not the behavior of a company competing on the merits. It's the behavior of a monopolist extracting supracompetitive profits and excluding rivals."
โ Attorney General
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Key Takeaways
- 1DOJ seeks to break up Apple's App Store monopoly in landmark 142-page lawsuit
- 2Targets 30% commission generating $30B/year, restricted app distribution, ecosystem lock-in
- 3Apple hires former Solicitor General Verrilli for defense; trial expected early 2027
- 4EU already forced iOS to open up โ American consumers may get same rights
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the lawsuit seek?
The DOJ wants Apple to allow third-party app stores, open iMessage, allow cloud gaming, and potentially spin off the App Store.
How could this affect iPhone users?
US users could download apps from stores other than Apple's App Store, potentially at lower prices.
Sources
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