Developers question scope of possible Apple antitrust settlement

The U.S. Justice Department is considering settling its antitrust case against Apple rather than continuing a court fight.

The DOJ sued Apple in March 2024, alleging that restrictions on the iPhone unfairly protected its smartphone business; Apple denies the allegations.

Epic Games and PayPal worry a settlement may leave Apple’s practices largely unchanged, especially around how the iPhone works with rival products and services.

The discussions reportedly include interoperability, such as access for competing accessories and payment services.

The dispute is about how much control Apple should have over the iPhone, and whether rivals can compete on fair terms.

Apple has already added support for RCS messaging and opened more NFC access to third-party payment services, but broader changes remain under discussion.

No settlement has been announced, and Apple could resist changes developers want.