Apple is on trial not because of patent-related battles, but on accusations of violating antitrust laws as it only allow iPhone users to download apps through its App Store. The company’s lawyers argued that Apple does not violate such laws, citing how it does not set the prices for apps or in-app purchases as well as charging a 30-percent fee for using its app platform.
The prosecution and the critics, however, countered that iPhone users only have one option when purchasing apps for their smartphone, thus concludes Apple being a monopolist.
The presiding judge, Honorable Yvonne Gonzales of the District of California, has yet to issue a ruling on the topic.
This antitrust trial dates back to 2011, when four iPhone owners filed a class-action suit accusing Apple of being monopolistic. Apart from the sole venue to purchase apps, the suit also pointed to Apple’s exclusive contract with AT&T for the iPhone when it was first launched, as well as the $99 annual fee it charged developers to access the iPhone’s SDK.
The suit asked the court, among other things, to halt Apple from selling iPhones that cannot download apps from third-party sources. Apple tried to have the case dismissed this year, but was unsuccessful.
Source: Bloomberg, via PC Magazine
Image source: AP Photo/ Mark Lennihan
