Mad Money host Jim Cramer dismissed the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple, stating that it lacks merit. Most industry observers share this view, highlighting the weaknesses of the allegations. Apple is facing regulatory action worldwide, with the EU already forcing changes to its platform. The DOJ’s lawsuit is more ambitious, aiming at Apple’s control of the ecosystem, which some believe will require a redefinition of antitrust law.
Attorney General Merrick Garland argued that Apple’s success is due to making other products worse, not improving its own. The flawed history with the iPod is central to the case, but it ignores the product’s success. Analysts believe that the lawsuit will take years and that proving the accusations at trial will be challenging.
Apple’s walled garden may change, but the case’s substance is unlikely to stand the test of time. The DOJ’s arguments seem to betray a twisted view of reality, with analysts criticizing the weak arguments. They argue that Apple does not have a monopoly, especially in the US market, and that the focus of the antitrust lawsuit seems misguided.
Experts believe that this is not comparable to the 1990s antitrust suit against Microsoft, as Apple holds about fifty percent of the US smartphone market, unlike Windows’ dominance in PC software. The divide between Apple and Android has been steady.
2024-03-23 07:00:04
Original from www.computerworld.com