iPhone lawsuit overview:
- Who: Apple is facing a class action lawsuit from three iPhone buyers claiming that it has illegally maintained a duopoly with Google over smartphones.
- Why: Apple made deals with web browsers to prevent the entry of third-party apps that don’t come through the App Store, allowing Apple to block competitors from the marketplace, the lawsuit claims.
- Where: The iPhone lawsuit was filed in federal court in California.
A new antitrust class action lawsuit claims Apple is able to charge above-market prices for the iPhone due to agreements it put in place to block web-based apps outside the App Store.
Apple attempts to block progressive web apps (PWA) from being downloaded and used through a web browser engine through deals that Apple made with those browser operators, the Apple antitrust lawsuit says.
Browsers on the Apple iOS system use the company’s WebKit engine — which doesn’t allow web-based apps to be used at all — rather than their own engines. Apple’s deals with other browser operators effectively ensure that other options like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are actually just running as alternative versions of Safari when used on iPhones, the Apple antitrust class action claims.
The deals also discourage developers from creating web-based apps, as Apple held 53% of the U.S. smartphone market as of 2023. This benefits Apple’s biggest competitor, Google, by disincentivizing other would-be competitors from entering the field.
“Companies that have developed advanced, full-featured browser engines that could serve as cross-platform launching pads for PWAs across both major mobile ecosystems have agreed with Apple not to do so on iPhone,” the iPhone lawsuit says. “Notably, Apple made such an agreement with its direct, horizontal competitor in both the smartphone and smartphone OS markets, Google.”
Google uses its own web browser engine, Blink, in every other format outside of iOS.
The Apple antitrust lawsuit was filed Jan. 25 in a California federal court by three iPhone buyers. Google is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Deals ‘ensure that no true cross-platform browser engine can exist’ in U.S., iPhone lawsuit says
Apple’s deals with browser operators have prevented other companies from meaningfully entering the smartphone marketplace, including Microsoft’s failed attempts at marketing a Windows phone, the Apple antitrust lawsuit argues.
“By ensuring that developers who seek to write once and deploy on a cross-platform browser engine are excluded from 136 million U.S. smartphones, Apple’s agreements restricting browser engine functionality on iOS ensure that no true cross-platform browser engine can exist in the United States,” the iPhone lawsuit says.
Apple recently agreed to pay $35 million to resolve claims that its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus devices had defective audio chips, causing audio problems for users.
Would you like to be able to download an app outside of the App Store on an iOS device? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Yavar Bathaee, Brian J. Dunne, Edward M. Grauman and Andrew C. Wolinsky of Bathaee Dunne LLP.
The Apple iPhone antitrust class action lawsuit is Bakay, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:24-cv-00476, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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38 thoughts onIPhone more expensive due to Apple web apps deal, class action lawsuit alleges
I have bought several IPhones, add me to the class action
PLEASE ADD ME
I’m an iPhone purchaser and have iPhone 2 XR ,2 11, 2se,, constantly issues
Yes, i would love to add third party apps. I use to have an android and could not receive text messages from i phone users. so i switched to iphone. 😢
yes add me please same issue on on 4 phones
Add me please.
Yes, you are force into buying a new iPhone.
I have the same problem. I have apple i phone, i can no longer update. Have to purchase a new model to update and must use the apple web app.which elimantes my ability to choose another web.app on my Iphone
I have the same problem. I have a 8+ i can no longer update. Have to purchase a new model to update and must use the apple web app.which elimantes my ability to choose another web.app on my Iphone
Yes I agree it is very frustrating. An the money you spend for new updated versions of the iPhone, but yet you are still prisoner of your own phone
I have bought the apple iPhone from the very beginning. I’ve probably owned every single iPhone that Apple ever made. Before the iPhone I had a BlackBerry. That’s the only kinds of cell phones I have ever used. If it’s not an iPhone then I don’t even know how to turn it on or work it. I also have the iPads. I’ve owned all of them that they have ever came out with. My brother has always had an android. So when we send each other apps they don’t work. They don’t have the same apps. If u have iTunes then Google play apps wont work on ur iPhone. If you have Google play then the iTunes apps won’t work on your cell phone. So it’s really frustrating that you can’t get the same app. The two different app stores aren’t compatible. It’s like 2 different worlds. I would love to be able to download apps outside of the App Store. My brother has some really cool apps that I can’t even try them out for myself. I have some favorite apps that my brother can’t even try out. It would be nice if the app stores was compatible with each other. Please add my state, Oklahoma to the class action lawsuit, thank you.
I’ve noticed that very same thing. I own iPhones and my son gets Android phones.
Can you Add to
Dating App
Apple App
I’ve always had that same problem, but with my son aswell. He has Android, I have the iPhone and we can’t even Bluetooth to each others phone or use hotspot from one another