Apple and DOJ hold early settlement talks in 2024 iPhone antitrust case

Apple And DOJ In "Early Settlement Talks" Over 2024 Antitrust Lawsuit Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice are reportedly in early discussions to settle the government's 2024 antitrust lawsuit against the iPhone maker, though no agreement has been reached and no trial date has been set, Bloomberg reported today. Apple has made multiple settlement offers this year in an effort to resolve the case, but negotiations remain ongoing and could still fall apart. Neither Apple nor the DOJ commented. The lawsuit, originally filed under the Biden administration by the Justice Department along with 19 states and the District of Columbia, accuses Apple of illegally maintaining a monopoly in the smartphone market by making it harder for competing products and services to gain traction. Regulators pointed to restrictions involving messaging apps, smartwatches, digital wallets, cloud gaming services, and so-called "super apps," arguing the company's practices harmed developers, competitors, and consumers. Apple lost its attempt to dismiss the case in June 2025. Since the lawsuit was filed, Apple has already made several changes that address parts of the government's complaint. The company now supports RCS messaging, allows cloud gaming apps on the App Store, has opened the iPhone's NFC payment chip to third-party developers, and introduced a framework for mini apps. Apple still does not allow the Apple Watch to work with Android devices, though it has added features that improve compatibility between iPhones and non-Apple smartwatches. The report also comes as the Trump Justice Department has shown a greater willingness to settle antitrust cases inherited from the previous administration, arguing negotiated agreements can deliver faster consumer benefits while avoiding years of costly litigation. It remains unclear whether the state attorneys general involved in the lawsuit are participating in the settlement talks. While the Biden Justice Department launched a series of aggressive cases against Big Tech, including lawsuits targeting Apple, Google, Amazon and Meta Platforms, Trump's DOJ has shown a greater willingness to resolve inherited cases through negotiated settlements rather than years of courtroom battles. That doesn't necessarily mean antitrust scrutiny is disappearing, but it does suggest the administration may be more focused on securing practical concessions from technology companies than pursuing lengthy, high-profile litigation. Tyler Durden Fri, 07/17/2026 - 15:20

Apple and the US Department of Justice are in early discussions about settling the 2024 antitrust lawsuit that alleges Apple violated competition law through its iPhone ecosystem, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Apple has made multiple offers this year to close the case. The discussions are active but there is no guarantee of an agreement, and […] This story continues at The Next Web

Apple and the US Justice Department are reportedly in early discussions over the potential for an early settlement of a 2024 iPhone antitrust suit brought about by the Biden administration.Apple hasn't taken the antitrust case lying down. Image source: AppleWhile discussions are reportedly underway, it's unclear whether an agreement will be reached. However, the Trump administration has been working to settle lawsuits brought by the previous administration for some time. It's clear there is a willingness to do a deal from their side.Apple is also keen. Bloomberg reports that Apple has already made multiple offers to the Justice Department in 2026 alone. The company previously lost a bid to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit in 2025. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Back in 2024, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of a “smartphone monopoly.” Apple has voiced its opposition to the case many times over the last two years. Now, a Bloomberg report says the DOJ and Apple are in talks to settle the lawsuit.