Lawsuit Avoided? Apple Reportedly in Secret Talks with U.S. DOJ Over Antitrust Case

According to foreign media reports on Friday (18th), Apple (AAPL-US) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are conducting preliminary settlement negotiations over the antitrust lawsuit filed in 2024. Both parties hope to find a resolution before the case proceeds to trial. However, sources indicate that the talks are still in the early stages and there is no guarantee that an agreement will ultimately be reached.

Insiders revealed that Apple has already submitted multiple settlement proposals to the DOJ this year, aiming to end the case as quickly as possible. However, negotiations are ongoing, and the settlement talks could ultimately collapse. No trial date has yet been scheduled. Apple has declined to comment, while the U.S. DOJ has not responded immediately.

The antitrust lawsuit was filed in 2024 by the Biden administration. The DOJ alleges that Apple restricts competition through its iPhone ecosystem, harming competitors, software developers, and consumer interests. Apple previously attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the motion was rejected by the court in June 2025, allowing the case to proceed.

Key allegations by the DOJ include Apple's restriction on the development of 'super apps' similar to China's WeChat, hindering integrated multi-service applications from operating within the iPhone ecosystem. It also accuses Apple of suppressing third-party instant messaging services, cloud gaming streaming apps, rival digital wallets, and limiting competition in the smartwatch market.

The lawsuit was jointly filed by the U.S. DOJ and 19 states plus Washington, D.C. It remains unclear whether the state attorneys general are participating in the current settlement discussions.

Reports indicate that since the Trump administration took office, the DOJ has leaned toward resolving multiple antitrust cases initiated by the previous administration through settlements. Stanley Woodward, the DOJ's third-ranking official overseeing antitrust matters, believes settlements not only save taxpayer resources but can deliver tangible consumer benefits faster than lawsuits that often take years.

In fact, Apple has made adjustments on several contentious issues in recent years, including allowing developers to launch mini-app platforms, supporting Google's (GOOGL-US) RCS messaging standard, permitting cloud gaming streaming services on the App Store, and opening its iPhone's NFC payment chip to third parties.

However, Apple Watch still cannot pair with Android phones, which remains one of the DOJ's key concerns. While Apple has added new features to improve compatibility between non-Apple Watch devices and iPhones, it still maintains certain limitations on cross-platform interoperability.