Apple Hits Back Against Class Action, Says It Doesn’t Block Competing COVID-19 Tracker Apps

Apple COVID-19 Tracking App Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Apple asked a federal judge to toss an antitrust class action lodged by developers who made a COVID-19 tracking app. 
• Why: The app developers say Apple made up fake excuses to block certain COVID-19 tracing apps from the App Store, but the tech giant says that the competing app didn’t meet its guidelines.
• Where: The class action lawsuit is being heard in a California federal court.

Apple is fighting a class action lawsuit that would force it to allow more coronavirus tracking apps on its App Store, denying that it blocks the apps so that its own COVID-19 tracker is more successful.

In a hearing in a California federal court held Nov. 4, the tech giant argued that antitrust claims brought against it by app developers should be tossed, Law360 reports. 

Lead plaintiff Coronavirus Reporter lodged the $800 million class action lawsuit earlier this year alleging that Apple blocked its virus app so it could corner the market. Since then, two other developer plaintiffs, CALID, Inc. and Jeffrey D. Isaacs have joined the case with similar claims.

Apple Blocks COVID-19 Trackers, Debuts Own, Alleges Class Action Lawsuit 

Coronavirus Reporter accused Apple of using “arbitrary and capricious standards” to effectively block the virus app offered by the company in March of 2020 as the pandemic swept across the world.  

It says Apple cited a lack of trust in the virus app’s self-report model and a lack of “deeply rooted medical credentials” when it blocked access to its App Store; however, the company allegedly rolled out a similar virus app during the summer.  

The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would bar Apple from blocking third-party apps from the app store. Isaacs said in the hearing that Apple has too much power, as it gets to decide which apps get to be distributed to a market of 180 million App Store users in the United States. 

Apple argues that it doesn’t have the obligation to distribute apps that are inconsistent with its guidelines. 

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The plaintiffs are represented by Keith Mathews of Associated Attorneys of New England. Jeffrey D. Isaacs is representing himself. 

The Apple COVID-19 Tracker App Class Action Lawsuit is Coronavirus Reporter v. Apple Inc., Case No. 3:21-cv-05567, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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