Apple is bracing for an impending antitrust lawsuit, with the U.S. Department of Justice preparing to allege that the tech giant employs anti-competitive practices to safeguard the dominance of its iPhone.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the DOJ aims to file the lawsuit in the first quarter, potentially as early as March 31, marking an accelerated timeline compared to previous expectations.

Apple’s iPhone dominance in the sights of impending antitrust storm

However, the timing could still change, pending final approval by the DOJ’s senior officials, as per anonymous insiders cited by Bloomberg.

The DOJ has reportedly engaged in three rounds of discussions with Apple’s legal representatives to explore the legal framework for the case.

This lawsuit follows a three-year investigation by the DOJ, which sought to determine whether Apple exploited its suite of hardware and software products to maintain a stranglehold on the smartphone market.

Business practices

The investigation has focused on specific aspects of Apple’s business practices, including examining whether the Apple Watch exhibits superior performance when paired with iPhones compared to rival smartphones.

Additionally, the probe is exploring whether Apple’s practices improperly stifle competition in relation to its iMessage text service.

The DOJ’s allegations against Apple may echo recent scrutiny faced by Beeper Mini, which accused Apple of violating antitrust laws when it discontinued an application enabling Android devices to communicate with iPhone users via iMessage.

While the legal proceedings progress, representatives from the DOJ and Apple have not issued official comments on the matter at this time.

Should the DOJ file the lawsuit by the end of March 2024, it would mark an earlier timeline than previously anticipated.