Apple disputes Justice Department demand for updated antitrust evidence

Apple has reported to a federal court in New Jersey that negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice and multiple state plaintiffs have reached a standstill over the scope of document production in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. The dispute centers on whether Apple must continue submitting internal documents closer to the trial phase, with the previously agreed document deadline set for June 20, 2025.

The Department of Justice and state plaintiffs are requesting that Apple re-search all relevant personnel and other sources, extending the scope to 30 days before the end of the fact investigation. The fact investigation is currently expected to conclude in late May 2027, a delay of approximately 10 months from the original schedule. The plaintiffs argue that since the investigation period has been extended, newer materials should be included to determine if the alleged anticompetitive conduct continues. They also contend that Apple's proposal to evaluate supplementary documents on a case-by-case basis could lead to further disputes and does not meet its obligation to continuously supplement evidence.

Apple argues that a full restart of the search would significantly delay the case, as the parties had already agreed on the June 2025 deadline. The company states that from June 2025 to June 2026, it reviewed materials from 54 custodians and dozens of other sources, totaling over 11 million documents, and produced more than 2 million documents. Combined with materials obtained during the plaintiffs' investigation, the existing evidence covers 18 years. Apple claims that re-collecting, filtering, and submitting approximately 22 months of new materials would take months, potentially requiring re-examination of witnesses and further delaying the litigation.

Apple has expressed willingness to supplement documents for specific matters with clear relevance and manageable workload, noting it has agreed to such requests three times previously. In a joint filing, both parties asked the judge handling procedural matters to determine that the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation. The court has not yet ruled on whether Apple must fully update its documents. The lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2024, alleging that Apple illegally maintained a monopoly in the smartphone market by restricting competing apps, services, and devices. Apple denies these allegations. cnBeta reported the story.